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Whether shooting stills or videos, the new full-frame Z series pushes the boundaries in imaging quality and lens capabilities, enabled by the all-new Z mount. Unleash full creative freedom with the newly designed NIKKOR Z lenses, or choose from over 90 fully AF/AE compatible NIKKOR F lenses*. Experience revolutionary optical performance in a compact form factor today. ALL-NEW F ULL-FRA ME SYSTEM | QUA D VGA EVF | N E W Z M O U N T & N I K KO R Z L E N S E S | I N - C A M E R A 5 A X I S V R | F U L LY A F /A E C O M P AT I B L E W I T H O V E R 9 0 N I K K O R F L E N S E S * *When paired with the optional FTZ mount adapter For more information visit www.nikon.co.uk
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Beautiful Design. High-Tech Features. Affordable Price. BEAUTY MEETS DESIGN OPERATING SYSTEM Android 7.1.1 (Nougat)
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SENSOR TYPE Vibrator, Fingerprint, G-sensor, Proximity, Ambient Light, Magnetic, Digital Compass, Accelerometer, Facial recognition
DISPLAY 5.7” HD+ 1440 x 720 pixels (18:9 aspect ratio) BATTERY 3,000 mAh - Express Charging
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Nuu Mobile Redefining sub-£200 INSPIRED FOR BETTER THINGS OPERATING SYSTEM Android 8.0 (Oreo) CAMERA Rear camera: 20 MP + 2 MP Front camera: 13 MP PROCESSOR MT6750 Octa Core 1.5GHz
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CON S P14
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HOT STUFF 10 The Hot Six O Apple iPhone XS Max, XS & XR O Apple Watch Series 4 O Sony Xperia XZ3 O Samsung Q900R O Sony PlayStation Classic 20 Vital stats DJI Mavic 2 Pro Snazzy Hasselblad-touting foldable drone 22 Apps Including your new handheld drum machine 24 Gigapixel Acer Predator Thronos A gaming arcade in your spare room 26 Icon Sony FES Watch U It’s more than just a pretty (watch) face 28 Choice Reusable coffee cups Show you care with sipping flair 30 Games Rage 2 Still ruddy furious after all these years 32 Stream New ways to avoid leaving the house 34 Start menu The gadget horses to back this month 35 Wheels Mercedes-Benz EQC Tesla-hunting in Merc’s new electric SUV 36 Your month Forza, fights and Freddie’s moustache
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TESTS
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p63 Immortal hand
63 First test Samsung Galaxy Watch Little and large have never looked so sexy 70 Tested Sony RX100 VI Ace compact snapper gets a touchscreen 71 Tested Brompton Electric Folding commuter bike goes freewheelin’ 78 Tested HP Omen 15 It looks the part, but how does it play? 79 Tested BMW i8 Sporty little hybrid number loses its roof 82 Versus Nuraphone vs Audeara Which headphones are the best listeners? 84 Tested Microsoft Surface Go Tasty tab for prudent professionals 87 3 of the best Bluetooth speakers Klang M1 vs Kilburn II vs Megaboom 3 90 Tested Huawei Mate 20 Lite Panting for the new flagship? This isn’t it… 92 Tested Canon SX740 A travel cam with a big snoopy conk 93 Tested Sphero Bolt Coding lessons disguised as robo-larks 94 Long-term test Google Home Max Smart speaker turns up the volume 98 Tested Games Spider-Man, Forsaken and Lara’s latest
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FEATURES 40 Cover feature Nocturnal tech Whether you’re trying to get the little darlings off to sleep, staying safe on the road or wanting to beef up your home security, this is the way to glow 60 Mini meme Handheld heebie jeebies The best scary apps for Hallowe’en 68 Upvoted Beard trimmers If birds are nesting, it’s time for a fuzz-off 72 Stuff picks Pet tech Keep tabs on your tabby 80 Beta yourself Android Pie “OK Google, how can I optimise this OS?” 88 Instant upgrades MacBook Pro Get more from your swanky new laptop 122 Next big thing? Wall-mounted coaches The best excuse ever for mirror staring
TOP TENS 104 Smartphones, tablets, mobile games What’s the handiest, handsomest handset? 106 Headphones, wearables In-ears, on-ears, smartwatches, trackers 108 Laptops, hi-fi Porta-powerhouses and super speakers 110 TVs, soundbars, smart speakers All you need for a lazy night/day/year in 112 Home cinema, consoles, games Streaming gadgets and gaming goodies 114 Tech toys, electric cars, VR Playing, driving, escaping from reality 116 Smart home, drones, compact cameras Comfort when you’re in, fun when you’re out 118 System cameras, budget buys ‘Proper’ cameras and the best tech bargains 120 How to buy… smart lights
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Advertising 020 8267 5493 Commercial Manager Natalie Carter Account Manager Michelle Flowers Production: AT Graphics Team Leader Melanie Cooper Management Managing Director Phil Weeden Chief Executive Steve Wright Chairman Steve Annetts Finance Director Joyce Parker-Sarioglu Publishing Director Kevin McCormick Publishing Operations Manager Charlotte Whittaker Retail Distribution Managers Eleanor Brown, Steve Brown Audience Development Manager Andy Cotton Head of Events Kat Chappell Print Production Manager Nicola Pollard Print Production Controller Georgina Harris Subscriptions Retention Development Manager Nick McIntosh • Volume 22 issue 11 • ISSN: 1364-963 • On sale 4 Oct 2018 • Audit Bureau of Circulations: 54,492 (Jan-Dec 2017) DISTRIBUTION Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT www.seymour.co.uk Tel: 020 7429 4000 PRINTING William Gibbons & Sons Ltd
Welcome Imagine being an Apple employee and handing in a September holiday request. “Hey, I know you’re dropping three new headline-grabbing iPhones, a seriously gorgeous smartwatch and the release dates for four new operating systems… but I thought I’d rediscover myself at a Machu Picchu yoga retreat”. It’s not going to fly. Stuff HQ was abuzz on launch night. At least I think it was – I was on my way to an Arctic Monkeys gig. Sorry guys. Thing is, when Alex Turner took to the stage I still thought he might say something about it, such is the fuss an Apple Event still causes. But where Turner failed, we’ve excelled, pulling together some exceptional coverage on everything announced at Apple Park, with a wealth of knowledge, expert opinion and valuable insight to help you decide whether to spend some serious wedge on the new wares. With winter approaching we’ve also gathered the best tech to use after dark, whether you’re a photographer, stargazer, cyclist, runner or insomniac, or you simply want to make cosy nights in a little more 'sensory'. It’s also a bumper issue for reviews of the latest gear, giving you the jump on what to add to your Christmas list. I’ll give you a clue: the Apple Watch Series 4 is already at the top of mine and it’s going to take something special to topple it. James Day, Editor / @james_a_day
Kelsey Media 2018 © All rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers. Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the author and not previously published. Where photographs are included, which are not the property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must have been obtained from the owner of the copyright. The Editor cannot guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails received. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for products and services offered by third parties.
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Making Stuff up Editor James Day Managing Editor Richard Purvis Art Editor Ross Presly Reviews Editor Verity Burns Hot Stuff Editor Matt Tate Online Editor Natalya Paul Global Brand Director Guy Cocker Contributors Andrew Williams, Craig Grannell, Andrew Hayward, Sam Kieldsen, Tom Wiggins, Tom Morgan, Mike Jennings, Joe Svetlik, Becca Caddy, Amy Davies, Hilton Holloway, Matt Cabral, David Phelan, Rob Keenan, Pete Gardner, RGB Digital, Mitch Payne, Mike Wescombe Cover image Pete Gardner Contact us stuff@kelsey.co.uk UK subscription and back issue orderline: 01959 543747 Overseas subscription orderline: 0044 (0)1959 543747 Toll-free USA subscription orderline: 1-888-777-0275 UK customer service team: 01959 543747 Customer service email address: subs@kelsey.co.uk Customer service and subscription postal address: Stuff Customer Service Team, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, Cudham Tithe Barn, Berry’s Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG
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I WADED WITH DIGITAL FISH It was just a normal Tuesday, except I was barefoot, roaming around in a dark magical space of infinite colourful lights and music. Next, I was wading through milky waters as projections of koi carp swam around my knees. All this was down to the creators and technologists behind teamLAB and its digital art show in Tokyo. It seems being trapped between a ’90s TV gunge-fest and a thought-provoking digital art exhibition is the only thing that can distract me from my phone. Natalya Paul, Online Editor
I SHARED MY GAMING INCOMPETENCE IN GLORIOUS 4K A few years ago, I loved playing video games and sharing clips on YouTube; but as happens to all of us eventually, life got in the way. Two things have got me back into streaming, though: three amazing games in the form of Rise of the Tomb Raider, Spider-Man and God of War, and AverMedia’s 4K capture card. It’ll capture my PS4 Pro gameplay and spit it out to Twitch at maximum quality, so people can witness my, ahem, skills in all their glory. Guy Cocker, Global Brand Director
OUR MONTH My big phat geek wedding, and other larks I DJ’D A SWANKY HOLLYWOOD MANSION WEDDING When friends ask you to DJ their wedding at the famous Houdini Mansion in the Hollywood Hills, you don’t say no. My decks don’t fit in a suitcase, so Native Instruments came to the 11th-hour rescue (props to Alyssa in their LA office for heroically aiding my escapology act). Repping for Blighty were two Naim Mu-so speakers, which looked and sounded the part so the guests were under no illusions we can build great kit in Britain. James Day, Editor
I’VE BEEN ASKING THE BATHROOM MIRROR FOR SKINCARE ADVICE As a 30-something, it’s inevitable that the lines are starting to creep in. A decade of late-night Apple launches will do that to a gal. Still, tech is here to help, and I’ve been trying out the HiMirror Mini and its skin-analysing smarts. This Alexa-packing smart mirror takes a scan of my face to give me data on a number of common concerns, which it then saves so you can track progress. At last, a way to find out if those expensive anti-ageing creams actually work… Verity Burns, Reviews Editor
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XS MAX KEY SPECS O 6.5in 2688x1242 OLED screen O Apple A12 Bionic chip O 4GB RAM O iOS 12 O 64/256/512GB storage O Dual 12MP rear, 7MP front camera O 3174mAh battery 10
2018’s iPhones have been bumped up to IP68, which makes them not only water-resistant but also fully resistant to dust and dirt. Should the urge arise, you can bathe your new phone in warm beer.
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25 PAGES OF THE BIGGEST STORIES FROM PLANET TECH
Face race iOS 12 alone gives your iPhone a noticeable shot in the arm, with apps reportedly launching up to 30% faster. And the XS has faster Face ID than its predecessor, as well as quicker wireless charging.
HOT SIX #1 VOLUNTARY XS
APPLE iPHONE XS & XS MAX The iPhone X made quite the splash. It pioneered the much-imitated notch, was the first iPhone with an edge-to-edge OLED display, and was the first to ditch the home button. So 2018 was always going to be a quieter year for Apple… but once you’ve finished frowning at the names of its new flagships, you’ll find a lot to love. First, the XS (pronounced, ‘ten ess’, Apple insists, though nobody’s listening), which looks like last year’s model but packs the
new A12 Bionic chip – which enhances your photos, gaming and AR while giving you more battery life than the X. The dual 12MP rear snappers have faster sensors and Apple’s Smart HDR, while a new slider lets you adjust depth of field in real time. And all of this is also available in the XS Max, whose huge 6.5in OLED screen makes it – inevitably – the ‘best iPhone ever’. As hot as… Tim Cook’s favourite Jacuzzi from £999/£1099 / apple.com 11
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Pic that one out The iPhone XS’s enhanced cameras boast larger and deeper pixels, which might sound daft but supposedly give you more realistic colours and less noise in low light.
XS, but XL The A12 chip has a fast storage controller, which enables the iPhone to blaze past the 256GB space limit for the first time. If you have the cash, you can now splash out on 512GB of built-in storage.
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HANDS-ON APPLE iPHONE XS MAX Gilty, your honour Worried nobody is going to notice you’ve got an iPhone XS? Have a word with yourself. But if you’re that bothered, make sure you opt for the eye-catching new gold finish.
DAVID PHELAN CONTRIBUTOR This is a clear extension of the iPhone X style. It looks like an X that’s been gently inflated with a bicycle pump, with the same shiny stainless-steel edge, glass back and that now-familiar notch where the TrueDepth camera unit sits. The easiest way to tell whether you’re looking at an iPhone XS or its larger XS Max sibling is to check the notch – because it’s the same size on both, it looks proportionally smaller on the Max’s display. It’s manageable in the hand, just, and offers the same tactile smoothness of the iPhone X. The new Portrait Mode feature is as impressive as it sounds, and more than just a basic adjustment of background blur. Machine learning contributes to working out what the image is and what the light sources are. The result is subtle and effective, with extraordinary levels of realism. It’s simply done by adjusting a slider that appears on the bottom of the screen when you hit edit, and is worth getting excited over.
HOT SIX #2 R YOU EXPERIENCED? Apple iPhone XR
Pane relief If you go for the XS Max, you can rotate it to landscape and some apps will offer a dual-pane mode (like on the iPhone Plus). It’s handy for filing emails or browsing categories in Settings.
Recognising that not everyone has a whole grand to drop on a phone, Apple also introduced the iPhone XR. During its unveiling, the word ‘same’ was used almost hypnotically by Jony Ive’s soothing voice to stress that this device has plenty of the same bits found in the pricier iPhone XS models: the same A12 chip, the same True Depth camera, the same Face ID system. What’s not the same: the price (lower), the camera system (no dual setup here, although Smart HDR and the bokeh slider do make it), and the display. Apple reckons the XR’s 6.1in LCD screen is the most advanced the industry’s ever seen –but the 1972x828 resolution is below Full HD, and at 326ppi only matches the sharpness of the iPhone 8. If you can get past that, though, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of vibrant colour options, including arresting red, gleaming yellow and bright blue numbers, that make the XS models look like they’re taking themselves far too seriously. As hot as… flame-grilled envy from £749 / apple.com 13
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It’s a grower The 38mm and 42mm case sizes are no more, replaced by 40mm and 44mm to accommodate the bigger display. Good news for people who wanted more screen space; not so great for skinny wrists.
HOT SIX #3 WATCHOS 5 LOWDOWN OLYMPIC GAINS There’s nothing like a bit of friendly(ish) competition to get you moving. A well as sharing activity stats, watchOS 5 lets you challenge pals to seven-day competitions. WRIST NEVER SLEEPS Imagine going for a run and not tracking every sweaty stride. With watchOS 5, this won’t happen, as the wearable automatically detects when you’re working out. YOGI BARE Apple has also added yoga to the Workouts app for those who want to boast about the quality of their downward dog. THE VOICE OF POD Spend as much time listening to waffle as music? Podcasts are now available on Apple Watch, syncing with your phone whenever a new episode comes along. TALK TO THE, ER, WRIST Apple’s Walkie-Talkie app, which lets you talk to other Watch users by tapping a big yellow button, is a fun addition. But is it really any more useful than a phone call? 14
A WRISTED DEVELOPMENT
Apple Watch Series 4 Like flat-earthers and Phantom Menace apologists, smartwatch sceptics are still out there. But anyone who’s worn one of Apple’s wearables will vouch for its subtly useful skillset, to the point that reverting to a dumb watch soon becomes very difficult indeed. The Apple Watch Series 3 laid the foundations for the product’s future by offering a cellular option that freed it from the iPhone in your pocket, and for Series 4 Apple has delivered on another important department: giving the Watch the comprehensive redesign users have been crying out for. The screen is 30% bigger, the body is thinner, and the digital crown now vibrates with haptic feedback. The speaker is also 50% louder, while the microphone has been shifted over to the right for more separation. There are major additions in the health department too: the Watch can now detect a slip or fall, and reach out to your chosen emergency contact if it detects you’re not moving afterwards. As hot as… your post-marathon armpits from £399 / apple.com
Ticking along The Watch Series 3 is hardly a slouch, but Apple has introduced a new processor for its latest wearable. The S4 chip is (by its maker’s estimation) up to twice as fast as the old one.
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Beater meter Apple has been pushing the idea of the Watch being your wearable guardian since day one, and the heart sensor now tells you when your rate falls below a set threshold for an abnormally long period of time.
Just do it As with previous Apple Watches, the Series 4 will also be available in Nike+ models, with both Sport Band and Sport Loop strap options. The nylon straps have reflective material woven in.
KEY SPECS O Dual-core S4 processor O W3 wireless chip O 16GB storage O Battery life up to 18 hours O Heart-rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor O Water-resistant to 50m O 36.7g (44mm), 30.1g (40mm) 15
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Range things are happening That OLED display is only half the story; the XZ3 excels in the HDR department too, working wonders with compatible Netflix shows and upscaling everything else.
We’re getting good vibes Like the XZ2 before it, Sony’s new phone features a Dynamic Vibration System, which means it apes the rumbling of a DualShock when you’re watching films or gaming.
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HOT SIX #4 SOMETHING OLED, SOMETHING NEW Sony Xperia XZ3
There’s no denying it: when it comes to smartphones, Sony has been lagging behind for a long time. But this latest big-screen blower is the business. For a start, it’s rocking a 6in 18:9 HDR OLED display. The ‘OLED’ part of that is the important bit, as it puts Sony’s new flagship in line with the top-end iPhones and Galaxies of the world, and Sony knows a thing or two about OLED panels from the TV side of its business. Sporting a gorgeous
3D glass design, it’s definitely a looker as long as you’re OK with a bit of bezel. Other notable new features include the AI-powered Side Sense, activated by a double-tap on the side to quickly access your most used apps. The processor and rear camera are unchanged from the XZ2, but the selfie snapper is bumped up to 13MP. It seems Sony’s a contender again. As hot as… lava surfing £699 / sony.co.uk
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HOT SIX #5 ALL YOU CAN EIGHT
Samsung Q900R
We’re hearing good things The XZ2 was already a booming phone, but Sony reckons the duo of front-firing speakers on the XZ3 are even louder. Wearing cans? Hi-res audio playback is supported.
Technology comes at you fast. Chances are Joe Bloggs is still getting his head around the arrival of 4K, and you can’t even watch local news in HD yet. Those cows could look so, so much better. But of course, tech companies don’t care about any of that, and Samsung is boldly putting itself at the forefront of an 8K revolution we didn’t know we needed. Its new Q900R range starts at 65in and goes right up to an 85in set, each boasting 8K QLED HDR screens. Pixel count? 7680x4320, which translates to 16x more detail than Full HD. But before you hand your new 4K telly to the binmen, you should remember that there is precisely no 8K content to watch. Samsung’s workaround is AI upscaling that uses machine learning to more accurately fill in the gaps. Put simply, it will make everything look smoother and more vibrant, be that an already stunning 4K movie or a low-res YouTube fail montage. Add to that 4000-nit peak brightness and pitch-perfect colour accuracy, and this showoff telly starts to look enticing. As hot as… 7680x4320 lit matches £tba / samung.com 17
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Who’s in control here?
The NES Mini’s short cables were a pain. We’ll soon see if Sony’s been more generous, but chances are you’ll be sitting cross-legged in front of the TV just like the old days.
A 1:1 recreation of the original PlayStation controller means you’ll have to do without the analogue sticks of its follow-up. Wonky camera controls it is, then.
HOT SIX #6 LATE CONSOLE ELATION PlayStation Classic
You could see it coming a Gran Turismo mile off. Nintendo’s decision to put two of its iconic consoles through the tumble dryer has paid off big time, so it’s no surprise that Sony now wants a slice of that tasty nostalgia pie. Arriving in time for the big guy in the red suit, the PlayStation Classic is 45% smaller than the original machine (which is nearly 25 years old!) but otherwise looks pretty much the same as you remember. The two 18
bundled controllers haven’t changed either, but your memory card is now stored virtually. Sony’s has even designed packaging similar to what you would have savagely torn open in the ’90s. It comes with 20 pre-loaded games, including Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash!, Tekken 3 and Wild Arms. Here’s wishing you a jaggy Christmas. As hot as… Spyro’s morning breath £90 / playstation.com
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QUAD IN THE HIGHEST
DJI’s new ActiveTrack 2 tech uses multiple sensors to map a 3D image of the environment for more accurate tracking.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro £1299 / dji.com
A go-anywhere drone with a no-compromise camera? That’s the idea behind DJI’s new Mavic 2 Pro, a folding quadcopter with formidable aerial video skills… O One-inch punch The Mavic 2 Pro’s big selling point is its Hasselblad-branded camera. The Swedish firm (part-owned by DJI) built the cameras NASA took to the moon, but this is its first drone-mounted snapper – and it’s a doozy. A huge 1in 20MP sensor and adjustable aperture 20
mean great performance in any lighting conditions, with video options including 4K 10-bit HDR and 120fps slow motion. All that dynamic range should give your images of bald-headed dog-walkers some striking colour depth and punchy contrast. O Eye will follow DJI has improved its already eerily accurate ActiveTrack system for the Mavic 2 Pro, so you can concentrate on flying while the camera automatically follows your chosen subject. Just drag a box
around the person/car/hedgehog you want to make your video’s star and the drone will do the rest.
mode, of course, in which case all sensors are disabled and you’re on your own out there.
O Sensory overload Nobody wants to see their new £1300 flying camera tumbling helplessly to the concrete after an altercation with a tree, so less experienced pilots will be relieved to hear that DJI has, for the first time, put anti-collision sensors on all sides of this drone. That means it’ll stop itself from ploughing into obstacles – unless you decide to switch into the 72kmh Sport
O Wander woman Because it uses radio-based transmission rather than Wi-Fi, the Mavic 2 Pro has an incredible remote control range. DJI claims that, with no obstructions or interference, it’ll fly it up to 8km away from the controller, all while beaming a live 1080p video feed to your phone. And 31 minutes of flight time per battery charge is the longest for any DJI on the market.
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YAMAHA MUSICCAST VINYL 500
AFFORDABLE FOLDABLES O Parrot Anafi (£630) A dinky drone with USB charging, 4K HDR video and 25 minutes of battery life, the Anafi’s only significant flaw is its lack of collision-detecting tech.
With vinyl not merely ‘revived’ but sitting up in bed and cracking jokes, it was only a matter of time before someone made a turntable for audiophiles who love the old-school thrill of physical music but hate old-school cables. Yamaha’s MusicCast Vinyl 500 fills that gap. It’s a record player with Wi-Fi, meaning it can stream your vinyl collection wirelessly to Yamaha’s MusicCast speakers. If that wasn’t enough, it’s absolutely rammed with additional connectivity: Bluetooth and AirPlay are both supported, and if you want to listen to something that isn’t an old Engelbert Humperdinck LP you can stream from services like Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and more. Alexa’s along for the ride too, because of course she is. £tbc / uk.yamaha.com
O DJI Mavic Air (£769) More pocketable than the Mavic 2 Pro but also blessed with a 4K camera, 21-minute battery and 4km range, the Mavic Air balances performance and portability.
O Yuneec Mantis Q (£449) A seriously specced-up offering for the price, this offers 72kmh top speed, 33 minutes of battery life and voice controls for when you’re too lazy to use your thumbs.
Bingeing on hingeing
THIS IS THE FIRST DJI WITH ANTI-COLLISION SENSORS ON ALL SIDES
LENOVO YOGA BOOK C930 Two years is a long time in tech – much longer than it was, say, two years ago. But if you can still remember 2016, you might recall Lenovo unveiling an experimental laptop called the Yoga Book, whose digital ‘Halo’ keyboard would illuminate only when you required its services. The Yoga Book C930 is an evolution of the same concept, but that keyboard has been swapped for an E Ink display. Running up to a 7th-gen Intel Core processor, there’s no arguing with the C930’s PC credentials, but it’s the device’s versatility that makes it interesting: the hinge lets you flip it over and scribble with a stylus, or detach the lower half and use it as an e-reader. Like to hear yourself type? Lenovo says it’s made its travel-less keyboard as clicky as possible. from £900 / lenovo.com 21
A P P S This month’s mobile must-downloads 1
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£19.99 / Android, iOS PC-grade footie management squeezed into your tablet. All it lacks is the whiff of football socks.
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£2.79 / Android £2.99 / iOS Tinder meets kingdom management. Swipe cards to keep everyone happy or lose your head.
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SWIPE MANAGER: SOCCER
1 Animatix
2 The Bullet Journal Companion
3 DailyFocus
£2.79 / Android So you like writing on paper – hence Bullet Journal. But you don’t always have your journal with you – hence this app, for capturing thoughts to write with a pen later.
£free / iOS A taster for the paid CreativeLive experience, DailyFocus is also a neat way to brush up on your photography skills. Dip in every day and devour the freebie five-minute video to become a better snapper.
4 Patterning 2
5 I Am Richest
6 Sneak Ops
7 Rome: Total War
8 Bendy in Nightmare Run
9 Fortnite
£1.99 / iOS If photos insult your eyes with their lack of movement, go a bit Harry Potter on your snaps with Animatix. Loads of effects and filters are available, from frizzy glitches to underwater weirdness.
£19.99 / iOS Drums are round, and so too is this drum machine. It’s a bit weird, but also intriguing, intuitive, tactile, and suitably full of noises that’ll get you going UNCH UNCH UNCH into the wee small hours.
£9.99 / iOS It says something about how smart games creators have got, or how large today’s smartphones are, that Rome: Total War is now on iPhone. But it’s all here: epic 3D battlefields in your hand. 22
£300 / Android Ridiculous app ideas never die: they’re like zombies, stumbling into view, ready to be axed. I Am Richest echoes the iPhone app I Am Rich. Buying it proves more that you’re stupid than wealthy.
£free / Android, iOS Like a 1930s cartoon from a deranged dimension where Disney went bad, Bendy is all warped audio and black-and-white visuals. It’s twisted in a good way.
£free / Android, iOS This one’s like a tiny Metal Gear Solid sneaked into your phone. Every day, you must “GET TO THE CHOPPA” on a new mission. Everyone gets the same map, but only the stealthiest make it.
£free / Android For presumably very important reasons, Epic has been keeping Fortnite off Google Play. But after a mere four billion taps and quite a bit of faffing, you can now have this classic on your Android.
£free / Android £1.99 / iOS Deal with fans, players and matches. One wrong swipe and you’ll be fired so fast even Sam Allardyce won’t have time to pack.
The bigger picture in tech
GAME OF THRONOS While the games industry seems intent on selling VR as the future of the medium, Acer’s approach is more old-school… and a little bit crazy. Its new Predator Thronos puts you into a gaming chair that reclines 140°, lights up and vibrates in sync with whatever you’re playing. Yes, it’s 2018’s answer to the ’80s Afterburner arcade cabinet. Just add three of Acer’s gaming monitors, one Predator gaming PC and whatever keyboards, mice and controllers you want to bring to your cockpit party. We know nothing about price yet, but given the cost of all those peripherals – and possibly a crane to lift the 200kg structure into your house – you might want to start saving. 24
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NEWS FEED
DUST TO DUST Robot vacuums already switch themselves on, map your flat, suck away dirt and then return to their chargers unsupervised… but you still have to empty them after every cycle. Until now. iRobot’s Roomba i7+ has a charging station that sucks out its contents and can hold up to 30 loads.
COVER VERSION Thought Apple’s HomePod was a bit costly? At £399, Bose’s Home Speaker 500 will give your bank balance an even bigger thwack. Still, its maker promises this Alexa-equipped device boasts the widest soundstage of any smart speaker, and it even has a little screen for album art.
SKY Q MAKES NET(FLIX) GAINS As brilliant as Sky Q is, the fact that it’s been restricted to broadcast TV and Sky’s own content is the obvious catch. Good news, then, that in November the Netflix app will land on the Sky Q interface, allowing you to spend even more time with your beloved sofa. 25
I C O N
SONY FES WATCH U from £529 / sony.co.uk That’s a funny-looking Kindle. Ah, how very perceptive of you to notice that Sony’s FES Watch U has a face made of E Ink – the stuff they use to make the screens for Amazon’s Kindle e-readers. What you might not have clocked, though, is that the display doesn’t stop there: it wraps right around the strap. E Ink makes this watch’s display very easy on the eye, and it only really uses up power when it needs to be refreshed. Because that will only happen every 60 seconds, the battery lasts a whopping two weeks. Wow! That’s way better than most smartwatches. Ah… did anyone actually mention smartwatches? Because this thing isn’t exactly smart. While it does have Bluetooth and a compatible iOS and Android app, it’s not for storing heart-rate data or making sure all your text, calendar and reminder notifications get from your phone to your wrist. It can’t do any of that. The FES Closet app is purely for transferring patterns to that E Ink strap and display. There are heaps to choose from, or you can create your own by uploading an image. So I could have a different look for each day of the month? Not quite. The watch itself can only store 24 designs. Still, it’s a premium chunk of wrist candy. There’s a choice of two finishes: the more expensive black version with a steel body, scratch-resistant sapphire glass and ion plating for a whopping £699, or the cheaper £529 silver option, which has untreated mineral glass instead. Both are water-resistant, but don’t even think about taking them on your next scuba-diving expedition. It’s probably too dark to read down there anyway.
THE APP SENDS PATTERNS TO THE WATCH’S DISPLAY AND STRAP 26
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Adventure time
CASIO PRO TREK WSD-F30 The latest entry in Casio’s Pro Trek series is narrower and thinner than its predecessor (see p42); but, let’s face it, you’re not going for sleek with these chunky beauties. No, the WSD-F30 is for people living in their own action movie: hanging off mountains, diving into oceans, and yet still wanting to know the time. This watch is waterproof to 50m and MIL-STD–810-certified, runs Google’s Wear OS, and includes Casio’s colour-map-downloading navigation smarts. Extend Mode can boost the standard 36hr stamina to three days by flipping the 1.2in dual-layer display to monochrome; and if you’re lost in the woods you can fire up Multi Timepiece Mode, which adds a compass. $549 / casio.co.uk
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WTF IS THE HUAWEI AI CUBE? That… that’s not a cube. No, it isn’t a cube, and to be honest we’re still as much in the dark about the naming process behind the AI Cube as you are. Geometric outrage aside, though, Huawei’s debut smart speaker is a fascinating product – and one that manages to stand out from its contemporaries, of which there have recently been absolutely loads.
Alright then. What has this almost cylindrical cube got to offer? You know how George Weah was really good at football and now runs Liberia? Well, some might say the AI Cube has similarly impressive versatility. It’s at the same time a speaker and a 4G router, accepting a SIM card via a slot on the bottom of the device to enable connection at LTE Cat 6 speeds. It also supports the 802.11ac standard, meaning you can use it as a dual-band Wi-Fi router that tops out at 1200Mbps.
I don’t see my Amazon Echo offering to help me watch BoJack.
Sitting on the bay of a dock
AMAZON FIRE HD 8 (2018) If you’re after a super-cheap tablet, there’s been nothing to top Amazon’s Fire HD range for a while now. While the new Fire HD 8 may look indistinguishable from the 2016 model, it aims to continue this reign of dominance with several upgrades under the hood, such as a new quad-core processor, a 720p front-facing camera and up to 400GB of expandable storage. But the big new feature is the optional new dock and case, which charge the device wirelessly and activate Show Mode, essentially turning your Fire HD 8 into an Echo Show. This means you get visual answers to your questions, and can ask Alexa to play the latest TV shows from Prime Video. £80 (£110 with dock) / amazon.co.uk
Exactly. And if the marketing babble is to be believed, the AI Cube (you’re just going to have to accept it) isn’t shirking it’s responsibilities as an audio device either. Concealed within its matt white exterior is a 400ml sound cavity and an aluminium diaphragm, which Huawei says will help it produce well-rounded sound from top to bottom. The company’s own Histen tech, meanwhile, can perform such magic tricks as ‘virtual bass’ and adaptive gain control.
And the pièce de résistance? Drum roll, please… it’s Alexa, of course! Amazon’s increasingly omnipotent voice assistant is built in and skilled up to her virtual eyeballs. There’s even a blue ring that lights up just like your Dot when you say the word. Maybe she can clear up the ‘cube’ thing.
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REUSABLE COFFEE CUPS
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Eco-friendly vessels for a taste of righteousness. Shall we try them all? 2
1 KeepCup Brew Reusable Glass Cup 12oz (Cork Edition)
First cup of the day, and this splashproof glass number has a tidy cork band. I’m wide awake. £21 / amazon.co.uk
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2 Big Bamboo Eco Thermos 450ml
Email checked… I should probably neck another, larger coffee immediately. This mug keeps drinks hotter or colder for longer. £14 / amazon.co.uk
3 Frank Green Stainless Steel SmartCup 10oz
Time to switch brews. Frank Green’s new stainless steel cups have removable tea strainers. £25 / frankgreen.com
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4 Stojo 12oz Collapsible Coffee Cup
Its collapsible design means Stojo’s silicone cup can be crushed down to a puck no larger than an Echo Dot. I’ll make this one a latte. £10 / bearandbear.com
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5 Joco 8oz Glass Coffee Cup Lime
[ Picture RGB Digital ]
On to coffee number five. This cup is so diddy! Tailor-made for a mid-afternoon espresso. Hmm… anyone want to go kayaking? £19 / bearandbear.com
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6 Ecoffee Look Into My Eyes 12oz
Oh my. Probably shouldn’t have waited until coffee No6 to try out the trippy cup. This experiment has taken a turn. Help. £9 / ecoffeecup.eco
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Hush hour
SONY WH-1000XM3 Sony’s new WH-1000XM3 cans, which come in black or silver, have had their hubbub-hushing tech upgraded and now have better signal-processing performance. Adaptive Sound Control automatically adjusts the noise-cancelling depending on your surroundings, so you won’t miss out on announcements when travelling by train – plus they’re now slimmer and lighter, with a 30-hour battery life. If, for some reason, you do want to let the bleating of colleagues in for a few seconds, you simply tap the right cup – and with the eager-to-please Google Assistant due to arrive soon, we’re struggling to see why you’d ever need to take them off. £330 / sony.co.uk
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DROP EVERYTHING & DOWNLOAD
Google Art Selfie
£free / Android, iOS We’ve all been there. Sitting on the sofa on a Sunday, perusing the pages of the arts section when the big question hits like a daub of acrylic: “Which historic portrait do I most resemble?” Well, ponder no longer, because everyone’s favourite search giant has delivered a solution to this creative conundrum – and it’s a doozy. Simply download the Arts and Culture app, scroll down to the ‘Art Selfie’ section and tap on ‘Get started’. Once you’ve snapped a shot of your beaming mug (or gurning, if you like), Google will fire your face through its database of thousands of portraits from galleries and museums all around the world. In a jiffy, it’ll offer up the best matches, all rated against your face – so you’ll finally know whether you’re 46% Thomas Jefferson or 60% Frida Kahlo.
Flittiness tracker
FUJIFILM X-T3 Smartphone cameras are so damned good nowadays that you’d need a pretty good reason to lug a DSLR around. Well, the Fujifilm X-T3 has many such reasons. Its back-illuminated APS-C sensor has more than four times the number of phase-detection pixels of its predecessors, bringing a greater ability to track fast-moving subjects as they careen across the screen. Autofocus works in the lowest of low light, so no one in the pub is safe from your snapping, and it’s more accurate and faster than ever. The X-T3 also happens to be the world’s first camera to output footage at 4K/60p 10-bit, which is professional videographer standard. That’s made you put your phone down, hasn’t it? £1349 (body only) / fujifilm.eu
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G A M E S OUT SPRING 2019
FIRST PLAY RAGE 2 PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
[ Words Andrew Hayward ]
Rage 2 is a surprising sequel, to say the least. Not because of what’s new or different here, but mainly because the original Rage kind of came and went… and then seven years passed with no hint that it’d be anything other than a one-off. But after a brash debut at E3, we’re glad to see id Software give this post-apocalyptic romp another shot. It lands like an amped-up Mad Max, albeit one that packs the kind of wallop we expect from an id shooter. The chunk we played was brief but lively. As dimwitted, 30
neon-tinged goons paraded around the rubble outside the Eden Space Center, we savoured each encounter as an opportunity to test out the myriad abilities on offer in this open-world single-player adventure. There’s more at hand than just epic shotgun blasts, even if those are present as expected. The game’s over-the-top nature is represented by your hero’s abilities, which let you speedily dash up to foes, use a kinetic ‘shatter’ move to blast them back, or slam
down from above to cause epic damage all around. Things really step up a gear when your fully-charged meter lets you kick into overdrive. Now the game takes on a surreal strobe-light aesthetic as you mash your way through all opposition at high speed. What else? Well, Wingstick, aka the murder-boomerang from the first game, has been improved, and we haven’t even had a chance to try the crazy vehicular combat yet. Loaded with personality, this could be an early 2019 highlight.
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STREETS OF RAGE 4 Switch
If The Crystal Maze and Take That have managed it, you’ve got to back Streets of Rage to make a triumphant comeback, even if no one saw it coming. Yes, after a full 24 years of hibernation, the legendary
beat-’em-up series is reborn with Streets of Rage 4, which will pick up where the Mega Drive games left off. It’s being developed by Lizardcube, the team behind the gorgeous Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap from last year, and also employs a hand-drawn art style. Crucially, the game will feel familiar to anyone who spent
many a weekend in the ’90s punching up 2D criminal sprites in side-scrolling city-based stages. Streets of Rage stalwarts Axel and Blaze are back and suitably bandana’d, while the power of modern consoles means brawling looks much better in motion a couple of decades on. But this is apparently an evolution rather than a straight
throwback, the devs promising new mechanics and a fresh story (currently under wraps) to go alongside the game’s reimagined style. You can play alone or with friends, but Streets of Rage 4 will almost certainly be at its best with a group of mates, a couch, and more bags of crisps than is reasonable. Remember those days?
COMING TO NINTENDO SWITCH
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ANIMAL CROSSING
due 2019 Nintendo fans were given a bit of a scare when it looked like Luigi had been killed off in a recent Super Smash Bros Ultimate trailer. Thankfully, it was later confirmed that Mario’s skittish twin was fine, for now at least – because for some reason he’s heading into a haunted mansion, again.
due 2019 Animal Crossing is a bizarre phenomenon. You do little more than wander about a small town chatting to the eccentric animal residents, collecting fossils and flogging turnips. Let it sink its claws in, though, and it’ll quickly become more compelling than anything in your real life.
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS U DELUXE out 11 January Originally launched on the Wii U, New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe has been sprinkled with new features and re-released on the Switch. As well as the original 2D platformer, you get two new characters and the New Super Luigi U add-on.
INCOMING OCTOBER O ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY O SUPER MARIO PARTY O RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 NOVEMBER O HITMAN 2 O FALLOUT 76 O BATTLEFIELD V DECEMBER O JUST CAUSE 4
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S T R E A M
Always wondering if you’re subscribed to the best streaming platform? Worry not. All of them have some great new stuff to watch:
Operation Finale
The Romanoffs
Camping
A big-budget thriller about real-life Israeli attempts to bring Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann to justice, this is a gripping catand-mouse drama with a starry cast that includes Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac. Exclusive to Netflix outside North America, Operation Finale is one of the autumn’s biggest arrivals on the platform. Film / Netflix
The latest brainchild of Mad Men mastermind Matthew Weiner, who writes and directs every episode, this miniseries consists of eight separate stories all linked by one thing: the subjects of each are descendants (or believe they are descendants) of the Russian royal family. It’s sure to be among 2018’s smartest, wittiest new shows. Season 1 / Amazon Prime Video
A glossy, star-studded US remake of a cult British sitcom, produced by Lena Dunham, you say? What could go wrong? Well, despite some reservations about whether HBO can do justice to Julia Davis’s series about old friends seeking to reconnect over a camping trip, the Camping ‘reimagining’ looks quite the hoot. Season 1 / Now TV
Maniac
The Disaster Artist
A new sci-fi series from True Detective co-creator Cary Joji Fukunaga, Maniac stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill as strangers who enter an experimental drug programme. This trial plunges the pair’s mind into fantastical situations, each designed to force them into facing down their fears… but things don’t quite go to plan. Season 1 / Netflix
James Franco directs and stars in this tale about the making of the best bad movie ever committed to film: Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. Franco’s turn as the enigmatic, vampire-like Wiseau (Where is he really from? How old is he?) is frightening accurate, while his brother Dave plays Greg Sestero, the naive, wide-eyed wannabe. Film / Now TV
The Haunting of Hill House Widely considered the definitive haunted-house story, Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel has already received two movie adaptations, and now Netflix has turned it into a terrifying new series. Plot: a group of people stay in a creepy old mansion, and they don’t get the typical Airbnb experience. Season 1 / Netflix
BI TH NG IS E
The Man in the High Castle Season 3 / Amazon Prime Video
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One of Amazon’s flagship original series is back with a long-awaited third season, and we’re excited to see what odd places it’s going to take us. Because while The Man in the High Castle might have started out as a fairly straightforward ‘Here’s what America might be like had the Nazis won World War II’ alt-historical drama, by the end of the second season it had outwardly embraced its sci-fi underpinnings, adding a bit of extra spice to what was in danger of becoming ponderous and formulaic.
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S T A R T M E N U
I GONDI GOE-
The latest startups, crowdfunded projects and plain crazy ideas
We’ve got the horn
KOZMOPHONE
If you love vinyl but feel you’ve not really gone retro enough when it comes to playing music, there’s always the option of plonking a gramophone in your living room. Should that idea appeal, but not the century-old tech, Kozmophone drags Edison’s invention into the present – and then drop-kicks it into the future. The main unit resembles a classic gramophone, but incorporates a headphone stand that includes a holographic display and a wireless phone charger. There’s Bluetooth in and RCA line out, and the latter might come in handy should someone nab Kozmophone’s detachable horn: it provides 12 hours of portable audio playback. from $249 / kozmophone.com BACK IT STACK IT
Dave, my mind is going
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ST KIC AR K TE R
ST KIC AR K TE R
ST KIC AR K TE R
I GONDI GOE-
SACK IT
HAL 9000
Got any Ice Cube?
THE CROWN
Smoking bot
Soft ware
Based on studio blueprints from 2001, HAL 9000 is a reminder that computers are not to be trusted. But rather than refusing to open pod bay doors, HAL’s a Bluetooth speaker these days. Still, the command centre upgrade ($889) has HAL coldly speak his famous phrases while you subject him to Chris Rea’s greatest hits. $499 / masterreplicasgroup.com
Yes, it’s another Bluetooth speaker, but this one’s creators reckon it turns any place into a music venue – and they appear to mean that literally. Its 41W output is blasted from a 360° design with reactive mood lighting, and its hollow form is fully insulated so you can fill it with ice at a party without affecting sound quality. $149 / kickstarter.com
With its blocky head/body and massive wheels, this robot looks like the offspring of a Segway and Eve from Wall-E. Relentlessly cheery, it zips about helping kids to code and parents to learn Spanish, and will terrify the dog. You also get a Walkie Talkie mode, scheduling and, most importantly, optional furry bunny ears. $99 / artibo.cubroid.com
If you’re fed up with your iPad jabbing you in the squishy bits during hugs, get some of these hand-crafted pillows. The five designs cover iconic Apple products from the Apple II to the iPhone. And for once, an oversized tech product is good: extra stuffing is more cuddly. $39 / throwboy.com
ARTIBO
THE ICONIC PILLOW COLLECTION
W H E E L S
Mercedes-Benz EQC
A NEW EV, EASY AS EQC Blue alloy wheels are your first clue that this ain’t your typical Merc. Missing exhaust pipes give the game away too.
£67,000 (approx) / mercedes-benz.co.uk Are you sure that’s electric? Looks like a typical Merc to me... That’s kind of the idea. Instead of pretending to be an out-there version of what its design team reckons we (or our chauffeur bots) will be driving in 30 years, the EQC mostly sticks to what Mercedes does best: understated premium looks. Beyond its big shnozz of a grille, this five-seat SUV fits right in with the range. So practicality has stomped all over performance, then? Well, just because the EQC isn’t rocking an AMG badge, doesn’t mean Mercedes has been stingy with the power. It has two electric motors with a combined output of 402bhp. Top speed might be limited to a ‘mere’ 112mph, but the EQC is still good for 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds… oh, and it has four-wheel drive, in case you ever decide to take your electric SUV off-roading. The 80kW
NEWS DASHBOARD
battery should last for around 200 miles of real-world range too. Not the best, but not the worst of the bunch either. Is it future-friendly inside? As up to date as modern Mercs get, yep. The EQC has Mercedes’ MBUX interface, which ditches dials and instruments for twin 10.25in screens. Touchpads on the steering wheel help you swap between screens and settings, or hook up your smartphone for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Expect lashings of leather and aluminium over every surface too, for that luxury EV edge. Are we talking concept here, or will this actually be turning up in dealerships some time soon? The EQC isn’t just another fantasy showpiece – it’s road-ready and will be on sale in the UK next year. Expect to pay £67,000 or so to put one on your drive.
Gotta PIN it to win it
Electric beaut with a boot
Marvellous Spyder, man
Are your no-good sproglets forever pinching the keys to your electric super saloon? Worry not, Tesla owners: your car has just had an over-the-air update that lets you protect it with a password. Think of it as a digital version of Peugeot-Citroen’s analogue PIN pad from the ’90s.
With compact electric motors instead of a hulking V10 engine and a shooting brake design, Audi’s PB18 e-tron concept is a supercar you might actually get a holiday’s worth of luggage in the back of. Looks wild, but expect it have some influence on the upcoming all-electric Mk3 R8.
What’s better than a limited-run Ferrari that’s been bred for smashing lap times on the race track? One you can pop the roof off on the drive home. The 488 Pista Spyder is just as nippy as the hardtop, hitting 62mph in 2.85secs and on to a 211mph top speed thanks to a fire-breathing twin-turbo V8.
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26th RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 A new Rockstar game is always an event, and we fancy there’ll be more than a few suspicious ‘sick days’ when this one finally drops. Set in America’s Old West, it sees you assume the role of gunslinger Arthur Morgan, who along with his gang is on the run after a botched robbery. Time to get back on the horse…
O NEXT ISSUE December New iPhones vs the world On sale 01/11/18
16th HUAWEI MATE 20
WE’VE SEEN THE LITE! Turn to p90 for Stuff’s review of the yoof-focused Huawei Mate 20 Lite.
YOUR MONTH
OCT
With Huawei’s triple-cam P20 Pro currently ruling the smartphone roost, there’ll be plenty of eyes on the launch of the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro. What to expect? They’ve surely got the company’s new Kirin 980 chip, while the Pro model is rumoured to have a gigantic 6.9in AMOLED screen. We’ll find out soon enough.
THEN
37 years ago Queen release their Greatest Hits album
It only gets scary at the end
NOW See the Freddie biopic Bohemian Rhapsody
2nd THEN 6 years ago Assassin’s Creed III launches in Europe
FORZA HORIZON 4 Ever daydreamed about disrespectfully donutting a supercar around the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s old town? Well now you can, as the latest entry in Forza’s arcadey Horizon subseries heads to wet and windy Britain. 36
3rd 12th VENOM
NOW Play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Tom Hardy stars in this Spider-Man spin-off, in which his character is bound to an alien symbiote that gives him superpowers. Going by the trailers, it looks set to honour the famously violent comics in what is a true anti-hero flick.
UNDYING LOVE This year marks the 10th anniversary of Call of Duty’s Zombies mode
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4 The news that this year’s CoD wouldn’t have a traditional single-player campaign upset a few, but it does have Blackout, a last-man-standing multiplayer mode inspired by Fortnite and PUBG. With the former ruling servers worldwide, we’re keen to see if Black Ops 4 can shake things up.
new
Mavic 2 Pro & zoom
The Future of Aerial Photography
Pre-order your drone at wex.co.uk/mavic2 Alternatively call 01603 486413 or visit your nearest Wex Photo Video store
W I N
TOTAL PRIZE VALUE £805
WIN A KILLER WHALE ADVENTURE WITH VIRGIN EXPERIENCE DAYS & INSTA360 Do we want to actually be killer whales? No, of course we don’t. Sleeping underwater sounds really uncomfortable, and we hear sealions taste disgusting. But as for the other stuff – leaping, diving and rolling through the sea at dizzying speeds – we’re well up for a bit of that. Thanks to Virgin Experience Days, one lucky Stuff reader will be getting a taste of that life with the Predator Adventures Seabreacher Experience (RRP £160). Strapped into an orca-like pod, you’ll feel some serious g-force as your expert driver puts the craft through its watery paces. And there’s more. This month’s winner also gets to capture that extraordinary moment in awesome 360° video and photos with an Insta360 One bundle worth £400 – including an all-important waterproof casing! Finally, the prize includes an overnight stay in London with tickets to The View from The Shard and dinner at Marco Pierre White’s London Steakhouse, worth £245.
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to have a whale of a time with Virgin Experience Days, simply go to stuff.tv/win and answer this question:
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING LITERARY CHARACTERS IS A WHALE? HURRY! COMPETITION A … Moby Dick CLOSES B … Muddy Mudskipper 8 NOVEMBER C … SpongeBob 2018 SquarePants Terms & conditions: 1 Open to UK residents aged 18 or over. 2 Entries close 11.59pm, 8 Nov 2018. 3 Prizes are as stated. 4 Prizes are non-transferable. 5 Only one entry per person. Full Ts & Cs: kelsey.co.uk/competition-terms-conditions/ Promoter: Kelsey Media Ltd, Cudham Tithe Barn, Berry’s Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG
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NOCTURNAL TECH
COME & HAVE A GLOW Spurs haven’t switch on their new floodlights yet, but the evenings are closing in and the clocks are about to go back. Still, this nocturnal tech will see you through the night… [ Photography Pete Gardner ]
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NOCTURNAL TECH
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NOCTURNAL TECH
NOCTURNAL TECH
OFF-PISTE ADVENTURES TH EV E M EN AI T N
Pack this tech in your rucksack to help you stay safe when the beaten track is a faint memory
Phoozy Phone Case
Wear OS might have started out as a wearable operating system for city workers, but the F20 throws that theory into the great outdoors. This is Casio’s second attempt at a tough smartwatch and crucially carries on-board GPS. Casio claims a two-day battery life as long as you’re not caning it with some sort of mammoth kayaking expedition, because nobody wants to be literally caught up the creek without a paddle. The 1.32in dual-layer LCD screen is super-bright in the pitch black, and if the battery is running low a clever feature flicks off the colour display in favour of a low-power monochrome one. £349 / wsd.casio.com
There’s something stupidly clever about an inflatable, waterproof, solar-rechargeable lantern. It puts out 75 lumens of LED light for up to 24 hours and can also be charged by USB. Luminaid donates lanterns to disaster relief efforts, giving you an extra glow. £19 / luminaid.com
Pulsar Edge GS 1x20 NV Goggles Who doesn’t want to walk around with night-vision goggles like you’re Ray Stantz from Ghostbusters? These have a wide-angle infrared illuminator, while a secure head mount keeps them stable while you scare off wolves. £499 / pulsar-nv.com
HT G E NI LIF
Casio Pro Trek WSD-F20
This snazzy pouch is made from materials originally developed for astronauts – it contains chromium to reflect heat and thermonuclear materials to cold-proof it to -20°F, it has military-grade drop protection and battery saving, and it floats. £25 / phoozy.com
Luminaid Packlite
Drone fireworks
Sonnet Labs Mesh Network
SOL Origin Survival Kit
MSR Tailshot Water Filter
No phone signal? This military-grade encrypted mesh network lets smartphones communicate. That means texts, voice recordings, images and GPS locations shared in an off-the-grid Jason Bourne stylee. $89 / sonnetlabs.com
Being stranded in the winter wilderness under the night sky isn’t for the faint of heart. This palm-sized survival kit packs in firestarters, fishing kit, compass, knife and LED light plus a drop-point blade and a rave whistle. £35 / surviveoutdoors longer.com
Gasping for lifepreserving water under the moonlight? This pocket microfilter lets you drink directly from any source while you evade aggressive swans (they’ll break your arm, you know). It’ll filter a litre in just 60 seconds. £35 / msrgear.com
Disney’s used them, and brought crowds to a standstill. Drought-hit areas of the US resorted to replacing Fourth of July fireworks with them to prevent fires. Yep, choreographed LED drone light shows could be about to provide an eco-twist to Bonfire Night. intel.com
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URBAN EXPLORATION TH EV E M EN AI T N
Whether you’re night running or running the night, get lit with this load of wearable hi-vis tech
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Urbanista Boston Night Runner Reflex A glow-in-the-dark reflective cable joins the bass-brimming buds on Urbanista’s Bluetooth earphones. They attach magnetically when not in use so you can pretend you’re wearing some sort of rave necklace. £69 / uk.urbanista.com
Night Runner 270 Head torches are fine if you want to look like DJ duo Orbital, but pounding the pavement becomes head-free, hands-free and far cooler with a set of these on your shoes. The 150-lumen lights illuminate a path up to 30ft ahead, while red taillights alert drivers. £49 / nighttechgear.com
Nathan Lightbender Despite sounding like the sequel to Napoleon Dynamite, Nathan Lightbender is a featherweight LED armband for 360° night-time visibility. It’s sweatproof and water-resistant, and has two LEDs for a blinking or steady light. £15 / nathansports.com
Neon Naked Life Drawing Neon Naked offers a twist on traditional life drawing classes, with models covered in UV lights and reactive body paint. This full moon party is happening each week across London – just imagine if you luck out with an Ultimate Warrior lookalike. neonnaked.com
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Asics GEL-Kayano 25 Lite-Show
Arion Running Wearable
The Lite-Show running shoes from Asics look pretty inconspicuous during the day, but like most night owls they come alive after dark, thanks to 3M reflectivity. Flytefoam Propel and Lyte technology offer a bit of extra bounce. £160 / asics.com
Part smart insole for running shoes, part LED footpods attached to the side, the Arion system measures metrics to adapt your technique and improve performance. Handily, it also provides bright blue lights for your sneakers for top visibility at night. from €189 / arion.run
Tracer 360 Don’t ditch your black running kit just yet. The Tracer 360 is an LED vest with fibre-optic technology and 3M reflective materials that slips over an existing T-shirt or jacket. There’s also an accompanying illuminating harness that adjusts to fit any dog. £90 / noxgear.com
Vollebak Blue Morpho Jacket By incorporating two billion microscopic glass spheres, Vollebak’s high-visibility coat shines a brilliant bionic blue when exposed to light, turning you into some sort of urban messiah to passing traffic. The overcoat copies one of nature’s most eye-catching marvels that’s nothing to do with the Book of Genesis and everything to do the iridescent wings of the blue morpho butterfly. This insect has been seen shimmering in rainforests from more than a kilometre away because of the microscopic scales covering its wings. The jacket mimics these microstructures, making it ultra-visible from long range. £495 / vollebak.com
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NIGHT RIDERS TH EV E M EN AI T N
Ditch the neon spokey dokeys, because after-dark cycle safety has seen the light – lots and lots of it
If you’re a cyclist who’s forever jealous of cars, what with their fancy indicators and brake lights, Lumos’s helmet may be for you. It features 48 LEDs and is Bluetooth-connected. When you slow down, the red LEDs at the back light up, making you more visible to cars behind. There are indicators too, triggered using a handlebar-mounted button device or gestures (by way of hand signals on the arm wearing your Apple Watch). Strava and Apple Health integration are also included. The range-topping Kickstart comes with MIPS (Multidirectional Impact Protection System) for an additional layer of safety. £180 / uk.lumoshelmet.co
Revolights
Ortlieb Velocity
Frickin’ lasers fitted to your fixie sounds like immense fun; but rather than a weapon for slicing through badly driven cars, British invention Beryl is all about blindspot safety: it projects a 300-lumen LED picture of a bike on road surfaces in full view of motorists. £99 / beryl.cc
Revolights incorporate front and rear bike lights into your actual wheels, while providing Tron-like 360° visibility. Splash out for the Eclipse+ version and you get a smart brake light that flashes to indicate when you’re preparing to turn, plus Bluetooth connectivity. $149 / revolights.com
Ortlieb guarantees its bags to be waterproof – helpful when a passing HGV can kick up enough spray for you to want to whip out a loofah. You’ll also find high-luminosity reflective yarn that turns the 24-litre Velocity into a giant reflector. £130 / ortlieb.com
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Lumos Kickstart Helmet
Beryl Laserlight
Golfing at night
Pure Cycles Zulu Glow Don’t be fooled by the zebra-like daylight look of the Zulu Glow: solar-activated paint means this bike glows bright green at night. An hour absorbing daylight is enough for a similar amount of after-dark visibility. It arrives in December. €429 / purecycles.eu
Garmin Varia
Fabric FL Series
Radar has come a long way since WW2 Britain. Now it’s compact enough to provide cyclists with rear-view awareness. Varia lets out a visible and audible alert to warn riders if a vehicle is approaching from up to 140 metres behind them. It also doubles a taillight. £169 / buy.garmin.com
Fabric’s 300-lumen bike light is enough to reach streetlit city limits and beyond, but its special trick is switching from a standard lamp to a strip of emergency LEDs if you’ve ventured too far and battery levels are low. Choose between a constant light or blinking mode. £49 / fabric.cc
Imagine seeing your local golf club lit up like airport Tarmac at night – and being given free rein to ping LED balls about. The Night Golf Company makes it possible: the only things you’ll see are the fairway, your ball and the bunker it’s headed for. thenightgolf company.co.uk
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SUNLESS SNAPPERS TH EV E M EN AI T N
Shoot for the stars or dingy basement bars with cameras for every low-light situation
Huawei P20 Pro
Fujifilm X100F
A monster you shouldn’t avoid in the dark, the RX100 III is gargantuan in low-light conditions. It snaps sharp images where most cameras its size would struggle, thanks to a superb lens with 2.9x optical zoom and a 1in 20.1MP sensor. £499 / sony.co.uk
We’ve written extensively about the Huawei P20 Pro, but then its triple-lens Leica camera has wowed us all year. Its pixels are larger than other phone’s so they capture more light and detail. Use Night Mode for the clearest shots post-sunset. £799 / huawei.com
Capturing foreign climes from dusk to dawn is what Fuji’s retro travel compact is all about, thanks to a high ISO performance delivering clean shots even in dingy conditions. This 23.4MP camera includes an APS-C sensor and a more than competent processor. £1199 / fujifilm.com
Samsung S9+
Sony A7 III
Canon EOS R
The dual 12MP cameras on the S9+ can switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 on the fly, cranking open the aperture for low-light shooting, then closing it again when the sun comes up. An open and shut case, then, making late-night pub shots clear even if your recollections aren’t. £869 / samsung.com
Another full-frame mirrorless wonder, the Alpha A7 III is a 24MP shooter with super-high ISO levels, a stonking sensor and backside illumination for insanely clean images in low light. It includes 4K video, a 3in tilting touchscreen and a 693-point AF system. £1999 / sony.co.uk
Canon’s 30.3MP full-frame mirrorless camera is a low-light powerhouse. That’s mostly down to the remarkable 5655 phase-detect AF (autofocus) system. Add in a whopping ISO range and this is a Speedy Gonzales 4K shooter at sundown. £2349 / canon.co.uk
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III
HT G E NI LIF Apple photo walks Most of us only tap into a small percentage of our smartphone’s camera capabilities. To make the most of what an iPhone can do, Apple Store staff offer local photo walks to perfect your low-light snaps. It’s also a cheeky way to nab a free city tour. apple.com
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Nikon P1000 The mystery of whether the moon really is just Noel Fielding covered in shaving cream is about to be solved once and for all, and it’s all down to Nikon’s new super-telephoto digital camera. The P1000 not only features an extraordinary 125x optical zoom, but has its own dedicated Moon Mode for capturing Earth’s natural satellite in all its pockmarked glory (and maybe even a Clanger or two). Lunar photography isn’t the P1000’s only showpiece, because it also shoots in 4K with a focal length of 243000mm. And if that’s still not enough, start shouting “More power, Captain!” and switch to the 250x Dynamic Fine Zoom setting for a 6000mm equivalent – just expect to sacrifice a smidge of image quality as a result. £999 / nikon.co.uk
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Once connected to the app, it also becomes an audio baby monitor so you’ll know straight away if you’ve got a Stewie Griffin on your hands.
The crying gain
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ELECTRIC DREAMERS TH EV E M EN AI T N
If you’re a baby, or just want to sleep like one, we’ve got the soporific tech to help
Bose Sleepbuds
A godsend for red-eyed parents, Suzy Snooze is a nightlight for kids to help them sleep. Connect it to your Wi-Fi network, push down its hat and it starts the sleep sequence. First is the soothing phase – playing relaxing sounds with calming light patterns. How long this goes on for is up to you, but it can be restarted at any time by pressing down the hat again. Next comes the sleep phase. Here it works as a standard nightlight, with a dim glow creating a cosy environment. Finally, it wakes the child by lighting up, while the hat pops up. Train your kids to stay in bed until the hat comes up and who knows, you might even get a lie-in. Chance would be a fine thing, but we’re willing to bet you’d do anything after a month of 4am ‘alarms’. £99 / bleepbleeps.com
No, not the Gimp’s latest outfit, but a wearable isolation tank that zips up to cover your face. The Relaxation Hoodie cuts you off from the outside world. There’s a phone pocket, and it’ll even play ‘pink noise’ to soothe your tired ears. £220 / vollebak.com
Nokia Sleep Worried you’re snoring, but don’t have a significant other to tell you? Nokia Sleep will. It also offers heart-rate tracking for racy dreams, and syncs to the Health Mate app. Finally, IFTTT smart home integration can adjust lights and heating at night and morning. £99 / health.nokia.com
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Suzy Snooze
Neighbours drilling at 3am? Bose Sleepbuds fill your ears with noise-masking technology – basically soothing sounds. Some of them are specially optimised to mask noise, others simply to relax you – and with no wires to garrotte you in the night. £230 / bose.co.uk
Vollebak Relaxation Hoodie
Day of the Dead
Zeeq Smart Pillow This pillow has a snore alarm. When the built-in mic detects you sounding like a blocked vacuum cleaner, it vibrates to get you to move onto your side without waking you. It can also play music from the integrated speaker, letting you doze off to a lullaby. £199 / rem-fit.com
Philips SmartSleep SmartSleep aims to improve the quality of your sleep so you feel more rested. Sensors detect when you’re in deep sleep and trigger quiet audio tones to boost the slow brain waves that characterise this stage. Also good for Petr Cech impressions. $399 / philips.com
Matrix Mattress The Matrix Mattress tracks heart rate, breathing, movement, stress levels and sleep cycles, so if you feel groggy all day, you’ll know why. It wakes you during the optimum part of your sleep cycle, leaving you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It’s a chariot to slumberland. $800 / matrixsleep.com
Mexico City’s Day of the Dead celebrations take place on 2 November. Planning your own party? Google’s Arts and Culture app has an interactive history. Alternatively, Pixar’s VR film project, Coco, is based on the day and is free for the Oculus Rift. oculus.com
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RISE AND SHINE TH EV E M EN AI T N
Catch the proverbial worm with the best smart alarm clocks to beat the winter blues
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Beurer WL 90 4-in-1
Ruggie Alarm Clock
Amazon Echo Spot
This glowing orb of 256 colours includes all the necessary simulated sunrise and sunset smarts to stunt the right hormones at night and kickstart them in the AM. Its super-wide colour spectrum can also be controlled from your smartphone. £130 / beurer.com
Taking the ‘time to get up’ mantra and running wild with it, Ruggie is an alarm clock that makes you get out of bed and place your twinkle-toes on it to shut it off. It’s tough love, with daily motivational messages to make you rise and shine. $69 / ruggie.co
An alarm clock is the perfect home for Alexa. She gives you the weather forecast, reads news headlines and even lets you show off your bed hair during video calls. Best of all, though, you can silence the alarm with a voice command. £120 / amazon.co.uk
Clocky
Barisieur
Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750D
As with Ruggie, cocky Clocky also makes you jump out of bed to shut it off – but this one makes you work even harder by wheeling around the bedroom like a hyperactive child until you catch it. It comes in a range of seven colours, including chrome and raspberry. £40 / clocky.com
You’re not truly awake until you’ve had a few sips of something hot. That’s why the designer behind the Barisieur decided to mash together an alarm clock and a coffee/tea brewer, so you’ll have your caffeine fix waiting for you as soon as you open your peepers. £345 / barisieur.com
Red Letter balloon rides Hot air balloon rides need to take place at dawn or dusk because the balloon needs heavier, cooler air around it to rise. Bad news for your body clock, great for stunning views over the Serengeti… or the less lion-rich British countryside. virginballoon flights.co.uk
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Arguably the most comprehensive SAD lamp and alarm clock on the block, the Luxe 750D includes a DAB radio, 20 wake-up and sleep-inducing sounds, Bluetooth for streaming your own music, and a USB port for a wired connection. £199 / lumie.com
Philips Somneo In a bad mood? It might have something to do with the rude awakening your alarm insists on giving you every day. The Somneo Sleep and Wake-up Light aims to stop you biting heads off in the morning by offering a gentle simulated sunrise so you feel ‘zen’ from the moment you prise open your eyes. This is complemented by sounds from nature or your favourite FM radio station. Feeling wide awake has everything to do with sound sleep in the first place, so the Somneo uses a light-guided wind-down function inspired by relaxation exercises to send you off to dreamland. It’s joined by a sunset simulation mode, which feels nice and moody but won’t quite fool your Instagram followers. £190 / philips.co.uk
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A multi-level touch display lets you programme personal settings. The panel’s brightness is automatically adjusted to match the room’s ambient levels.
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COUCH LOVERS TH EV E M EN AI T N
Never mind the pouring rain: it’s time to Netflix and chill (fully clothed) on the sofa
Guaranteed to transform a room on a dingy winter’s day or help you recreate a shiny late-’90s rap video, Nanoleaf’s new Canvas system comprises touch-controlled light squares that can cover entire walls or ceilings. The edge-to-edge LED tiles are modular and up to 500 can be supported by a single control square. If they’re out of arm’s reach and you can’t get off the sofa, they also respond to voice commands or the app. The latter also lets you set schedules and visual alarms, or enable music visualisation for illuminations in time with your tunes (presumably something by Redman and featuring velour tracksuits). Mostly, though, we want to play oversize Tetris when they arrive in November. £179 / nanoleaf.me
Richard Clarkson Floating Cloud
The Aura Studio 2 speaker looks like it’s trying to suck the world into some sort of wormhole. Really, though, it’s just trying to make it a far nicer place by delivering incredible sound and incorporating an ambient white glow. £249 / harmankardon.co.uk
Jeez, we love the sound of a magnetically levitating ambient LED lamp. The Floating Cloud reacts to sound, with a full spectrum of lightning-like activity while it floats above a base powered by lithium ion batteries. $4620 / richardclarkson.com
Eve Flare Smart lights become awfully expensive if you replace every bulb in the house. The portable Flare solves that problem by allowing you to bask in the aura of any colour you wish before deciding where to place it. Control it with your voice, an app or Apple Homekit. £115 / evehome.com
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Nanoleaf Canvas
Harman Kardon Aura Studio 2
Mars Season 2
Royole Moon
Fatboy RockCoco
Philips 903 OLED
Back in the day, Olympus released the Eye Trek – effectively a cinema screen you attached to your head. Royole refines the idea with its Moon mobile theatre for Full HD 2D and 3D movies. Lie back on your bed with Pulp Fiction for a Royole with cheese. £900 / royole.com
Say hello to your dinner party centrepiece. A baroque-style LED chandelier for the modern age, the RockCoco is polycarbonate, portable, and doesn’t require hardwiring. It can even be used outdoors for post-dinner dips in the hot tub. £599 / fatboy.com
The glowing LED light show emanating from the rear of Philips’ Ambilight TVs makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. If mixing it with a 4K OLED display wasn’t enough to tickle our fancy, Bowers & Wilkins is taking care of the sound. A true feast for the senses. £2499 / philips.co.uk
In case you’ve missed it, Mars is National Geographic’s docudrama based on a fictional first manned mission to the Red Planet in the year 2033. Season two blasts off in November, so the countdown is on to catch up with season one on Netflix now. netflix.com
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HOME ALONERS TH EV E M EN AI T N
When things go bump in the night, this little lot is on hand to help you work out what it was
Hive View
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If you use a Hive thermostat to keep you snug at night, its infrared indoor camera will keep an eye on the house when you’ve gone to bed. The View looks the part and records in Full HD, while its party trick is a removable cube-shaped camera. £189 / hivehome.com
Aumi Smart Lights
Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
Aumi’s adorable connected nightlights include motion detection. Choose from 16 million colours, toggle the intensity and set smart timers, all from the app. Batteries last 12 hours, or four hours if they shine at their brightest all night long. £30 / aumilight.com
The outdoorsy Cam IQ with night vision is an HD device with a 4K digital sensor and a wide 130° view for spotting Harry and Marv. Subscribe to the Nest Aware service at £4 a month and you get intelligent face recognition. £329 / nest.com
Fing Box
Netatmo Presence
Zombie training Protecting your home from the living is one thing, but securing it from the living dead is quite another. Zombie apocalypse training with real military weapons is a thing. The Apocalypse World Tour will have fresh dates for UK cities soon. apocalypse worldtour.com
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Ring Floodlight Cam While Ring is known for video doorbells, its Floodlight Cam works on a similar principal to the Netatmo on the right, only it has to be hardwired. It has twin LED lamps, a 110dB siren alarm and two-way HD audio, plus facial detection. £249 / ring.com
The Fing is a shining blue beacon for securing a home Wi-Fi network. After scanning your devices, it alerts you if anything rogue is attempting to join and blocks them. It also checks kids’ internet usage and tells you how much bandwidth each device is hogging. £125 / fingbox.com
Not only does Netatmo’s outdoor security light double as a camera – it can distinguish between people, cars and animals like the Terminator. No subscription fees, Apple Homekit-compatible, and it works with Google Assistant. £249 / netatmo.com
Netgear Arlo Light The humble security light has been overreacting to passing cars and pedestrians since day dot. Of course we’d rather be safe, but there has to be something smarter. Netgear’s Arlo security cameras are brilliant, so we like the idea of adding to that ecosystem with the Arlo Light. Its motion detection is refined – place it strategically away from your cameras and they work in tandem to cover a wider area. Notifications are sent to your phone, and if the light goes off it automatically sets cameras to record. It’s possible to schedule the light for when you’re at home, at work or on holiday, and everything is managed through the Arlo app or by conversing with Alexa. £140 / arlo.com
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THE SKY AT NIGHT TH EV E M EN AI T N
There’s more to space than the Plough: discover new worlds with a stargazing starter pack
A bit like a globe drinks cabinet, there’s a cheesiness to owning a telescope that makes it kind of cool. Celestron’s stupidly easy-to-set-up spyglass is called Inspire for a reason, because it’ll have you reaching for the stars in no time. The genius at work here is the ability to attach a smartphone so you can take interstellar images with the camera using the telescope as a super-long lens – your Insta followers won’t see that coming. A built-in red LED flashlight provides some night vision so you don’t go bull-in-a-china-shop clumsy, and a focus micrometer switches you back to a specific focus point: Millennium Falcon, Starship Enterprise, Superman, etc. £200 / celestron.com
Tiny1 Astronomy Camera
Light pollution means the night sky can be a washout in cities. The Star Theatre makes home the final frontier by projecting 60,000 real stars onto your ceiling, with tonnes of added information and the mimicking of celestial movements. £110 / firebox.com
This cosmic connected camera is a crowdfunder success story. It’s designed specifically to clip onto any telescope lens and uses software to reduce image noise and make planetary pictures sharper. An augmented-reality map helps identify stars. $514 / tinymos.com
Orion Big 20-Power Binoculars Astronomy binoculars can help with depth perception when exploring the vast distances of the universe/Clapham High Street. These have big 80mm-aperture lenses and 17mm eye relief for use with spectacles. £115 / uk.telescope.com
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Celestron Inspire 80AZ
Star Theatre Planetarium
Sark stargazing
Petzl Tactikka+ A red filter light not only offers night vision – it also helps your eyes stay adjusted to the dark while reading star charts, planet finders or telescope markings. The Tactikka+ can be used as a head torch or attached to a belt or pocket. You can also switch it to white light. £35 / petzl.com
Thermos Ultimate Series 500ml Vacuum insulation tech keeps contents hot or cold for up to 24 hours, while a two-part stopper ensures ultra-smooth pouring and everything on the outside remains cool while everyone’s waiting for a glimpse of Uranus. £32 / thermosonline.co.uk
Star Walk 2 The earliest carving of the constellation Orion was found on a mammoth tusk over 32,000 years old. Star maps now appear in apps. The gorgeous UI on Star Walk 2 includes augmented reality, a time-travel feature to skies past or future, plus satellite IDs. £2.99 / iOS, Android
Sark is a curious little rock in the Channel Islands with no public lighting, no paved roads and no cars. It’s also the world’s first Dark Sky Island, as awarded by the Dark Sky Association, making it truly astonishing for astronomy free of light pollution. sark.co.uk
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TESTED APPS
Mini meme
O Dark Echo Helpfully set entirely in the dark, this game lets your imagination create its own horrors. Its only visuals show sounds bouncing off surfaces to help you find your way. This all looks rather pretty, although you probably won’t notice what with all the squelching underfoot, and the many whispering fiends waiting for their chance to tear you limb from limb. Stuff says ++++, £1.49 / Android O £1.99 / iOS
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HANDHELD HEEBIE JEEBIES Turn off the lights and scare the wits out of yourself this Hallowe’en with some of these spooky mobile horror games. Just don’t say you weren’t warned!
O Year Walk Snow crunches underfoot in this fairytale horror set in a frozen Sweden. Scenes rise and fall like pages from a warped picture book as you solve cryptic puzzles that lead you deeper into a mystery. Frequently unsettling imagery and some properly petrifying jump scares await in one of mobile’s finest and most original adventure titles. Stuff says +++++ £3.99 / iOS
O Slayaway Camp
O The Room: Old Sins
O Five Nights at
O Zombies, Run!
If the only horror you can deal with is the cartoon gore you find in the more degenerate South Park episodes, try this puzzler. More or less ‘Sokoban meets a 1980s VHS slasher movie’, it sees you slide about slaughtering campers, dispatching witless cops, and discovering that even for blocky cartoon dorks a woodchipper is a nasty way to go. Stuff says ++++, £2.79 / Android O £2.99 / iOS
A prominent engineer vanishes; his trail leads to a spooky attic containing a freaky doll house. One glimpse of a dead body in the moonlight and you’re sucked inside. And just in case that isn’t quite creepy enough, the tiny impossible structure is covered in satanic symbols, and appears to be a portal for Lovecraftian horrors straining to burst through. Stuff says +++++ £4.99 / Android, iOS
Freddy’s 2
In horror flicks, there’s quite a lot of abject terror combined with running. This isn’t terribly well represented in games, where you usually just hold a virtual joystick to flee – so why not let this ‘gamified exercise’ app dump you in a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland instead? It’s not so much The Walking Dead as The Running To Avoid Being Dead. Stuff says ++++, £free (IAPs) / Android, iOS
“Be a nightwatchman,” they said. “How hard could that be?” Well, depends whether you’re monitoring CCTV cameras to check on psychotic animatronic animal suits. If they get too near, they’ll tear your face off. Luckily, you’ve been armed with… a music box and a bear head. Thanks, corporate cutbacks. Stuff says ++++, £1.92 / Android O £2.99 / iOS
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F I R S T T E S T S A M S U N G G A L A X Y WAT C H
Watch and learn With a choice of sizes, a friendly user interface and styles to please almost everyone, can Samsung’s Galaxy Watch teach other wearables how it’s done?
from £279 / stuff.tv/GalaxyWatch
ou’d be forgiven for mistaking the new Samsung Galaxy Watch for a stylish ‘old-school’ timepiece, what with its premium design, circular face and metallic bezel. And it’s not just a pretty face either. It’s packed with plenty of features to make it one of the best smartwatches out there.
[ Words Becca Caddy]
Y
Samsung’s previous watches were of the one-size-fits-all variety, but this one comes in two (albeit very similar) sizes: there are 42mm and 46mm versions to choose from. Those with smaller wrists will welcome a chance to wear a smartwatch that isn’t bulky, but the bigger model comes with a significant boost in
battery life and features a bigger screen. The decision for many will be a tough one, but the fact that there’s a choice this time round is refreshing. The Galaxy Watch’s stylish circular design is bound to have mass appeal, and could even sway some iOS users away from the Apple Watch. However, although this is a solid choice for
iPhone owners, it’s no surprise that Galaxy phone users will have the best user experience, so think twice before you jump ship. The question is, does the Galaxy Watch’s bold new name match up to its design, features and user experience in this increasingly crowded smartwatch space?
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F I R S T T E S T S A M S U N G G A L A X Y WAT C H
1
2
1
Do the twist
This watch’s rotating bezel sets it apart from other smartwatches. It’s the best way to navigate through the interface, feels satisfying to use with its heavy click, and quickly becomes second nature. It also protects the glass against knocks.
5
3 Tizzy rascal
2 Power rangers Both Galaxy Watch models have decent battery life in comparison with the competition. The smaller one can last up to five days, though we found it only managed about three with lots of use, while the bigger model can keep powering through for up to a week.
Tizen 4.0 is one hell of a smooth operator (well, operating system). Its notification support is oh so slick, it handles fitness tracking well, and it has support for apps like Spotify. Combined with the rotating bezel, it makes the watch a breeze to use day in, day out.
5 Wrist management
4 Let it shine The Galaxy Watch has an AMOLED touchscreen display that measures 1.2in on the 42mm model and 1.3in on the 46mm version. As you’d expect from Samsung, the display is sharp and colour-rich, and it has an adaptive brightness setting.
There are three metallic finishes to choose from, plus swappable straps and more than 60,000 watch faces to play with. Dig deeper and you can also customise the menus, settings and widgets. You can really make this watch your own.
Good Meh Evil
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24 hours with the Samsung Galaxy Watch
3mins 64
5mins
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1hr 2mins 2hrs
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F I R S T T E S T S A M S U N G G A L A X Y WAT C H
Tech specs Screen 1.3in or 1.2in 360x360 Super AMOLED Processor Exynos 9110 1.15GHz Storage 4GB OS Tizen 4.0 Battery life Up to 7 days Sensors Accelerometer, gyrometer, barometer, heart-rate, ambient light Dimensions 46x49x13mm, 63g; 42x46x12.7mm, 49g
Fitness first It may be an all-singing, all-dancing smartwatch, but the Galaxy Watch is also a fantastic fitness tracker…
A th uto at m I’m at w ic tr alk ac ing kin Th af g h so e te as s ra p no tr fe ick w ess w ed I’m t m u r m ack in p or e ut es rs es …b . tre ay ca ut s lm th ss I’m ed s ed e … tr m bre es e d at se ow hin d, Ig na ge x is ot bi er sh m t. ci oc y f se ke irs sh di tc av t’s om e as p lim m It ar en ag ’s c tw t! ain om at Ev ch er . G fy . yo oo en ne dn ou ig gh ht t ! ow ea rt o be d
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12hrs
15hrs 16hrs
18hrs
Q Make a splash
Q On your marks
The Galaxy Watch is waterproof to 50m and it’s swim-friendly, which means you can take it for a dip in the sea or the pool at your gym, where it’ll keep tabs on lengths, distance and pace.
You can start working out without having to tell your Watch what you’re up to. Supported auto-tracked activities are walking, running, cycling, elliptical training, rowing and dynamic workout.
Q Lungey jumping
Q The beat goes on
There are plenty more activities that the Watch can monitor for you. It can currently track 39 exercises, from lunges and burpees to yoga and pilates. It’s time to get sweating.
Like to keep an eye on how your body’s doing? The Galaxy Watch can show you how your resting heart rate changes over time, and displays how hard your heart is pumping as you work out.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch is a sturdy and stylish smartwatch with plenty of power and a truly lovely user interface, thanks to its rotating bezel and Tizen operating system. iPhone owners are still likely to get a better experience with the Apple Watch, but for Android users this might just be the best smartwatch money can buy. @beccacaddy
STUFF SAYS +++++ A stunning display and decent performance make this a surefire bet for Android phone owners
24hrs 65
F I R S T T E S T S A M S U N G G A L A X Y WAT C H
The alternatives: 3 more smartwatches Other wearables that are longing to wrap themselves around your wrist
BEST FOR VALUE
BEST FOR APPS BEST FOR RUNNING
Apple Watch Series 3
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Garmin Vivoactive 3
Fitbit Versa
from £279 / apple.com
£280 / garmin.com
£180 / fitbit.com
What’s the story? Third verse, same as the first: aside from the red-dot crown, the Apple Watch Series 3 looks just like the original. A cellular option brings the Star Trek dream to life, though, letting you use the watch like a phone. There’s GPS, a good heart monitor for exercise tracking, and 5ATM water-resistance means you can even wear it in the swimming pool.
What’s the story? You get 90% of the tech of Garmin’s pro athlete watches here, in a much smaller package and with a much less scary price. Oh, and a touchscreen. GPS, a fine heart-rate sensor, swim-ready water-resistance and around four days of battery life (depending on how much exercise you track) add up to just about the best exercise watch available.
What’s the story? Joining the smartwatch race years behind the competition sounds mad… but it means Fitbit has the benefit of knowing what people actually want from one. It turns out that’s good battery life and the basics done well, not 10,000 rubbish apps. The Versa is also one of the friendliest-looking models around, much prettier than its Ionic predecessor.
Is it any good? We’re excited about the new Watch Series 4, but the S3 is already the real smartwatch deal. Want to play with apps? It’s got a load of ’em. Sport tracking? The Apple Watch is almost bizarrely good at that too these days. Haptic feedback also makes the experience here totally different to any rival model. However, no surprise: the Watch’s battery life is the worst of the lot at 1-2 days. Better keep that charger handy.
Is it any good? If exercise tracking comes first in your priority list, the Vivoactive 3 is a corker. It’s a proper sport watch that looks and feels like a smartwatch – you don’t have to be running ultra-marathons or cycling up the sides of buildings to pull this one off. And Garmin’s Connect software is brilliant if you actually want to track training progress. One thing to bear in mind, though: aside from Garmin Pay wireless payments, the smarts are pretty basic.
Is it any good? Four days of real-world use? That’s a killer feature in smartwatch world. It makes the Versa extremely easy to live with, especially as you still get that bright and punchy screen up front. Fitness tracking isn’t up to the standard of the Garmin on the left, but you can use GPS tracking if you take your phone out with you. Just don’t expect ultra-reliable heart-rate readings – or loads of extra apps to keep you entertained while your phone’s charging.
KEY SPECS Screen 1.65in 390x312/340x272 OLED Battery life 18 hours Dimensions 43x36x11.4mm, 32.3g
KEY SPECS Screen 1.2in 240x240 MIP Battery life Up to 7 days Dimensions 43x43x11.7mm, 43g
KEY SPECS Screen 1.34in 300x300 LCD Battery life Up to 4 days Dimensions 39x39x11 mm, 39mm
Stuff says +++++
Stuff says +++++
Stuff says ++++,
Still the definitive smartwatch – at least until we’ve weighed up the S4
The king of smart/sport hybrids, this is the perfect watch for runners
Sticks to the basics to keep the price low and the battery life long
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The stubble sucker
The frequent flyer
The laser leveller
Philips BT7202/13 Try to ignore the inevitable comparisons with the Suck Kut from Wayne’s World and attaching a vacuum to a beard trimmer is actually a pretty good idea. It won’t catch 100% of the detritus your face gives off, but it’ll definitely make cleaning the sink afterwards less of a chore. £48 / philips.co.uk
Remington Endurance Groomer Most beard trimmers come with a bulky charger that you use so infrequently you always forget where you put it. Not only is Remington’s Endurance Groomer about half the size of most others, but it comes with a tiny adaptor that allows you to juice it up from any common or garden USB port. £30 / uk.remington-europe.com
Philips Series 9000 BT9297/13 Maintaining a tidy beard is a full-time job. Dedicated Noel Edmonds wannabes should consider calling in the big guns and using the pop-up laser on Philips’ Series 9000, which projects a red guideline onto your face. All it needs now is a spirit level to ensure you’re holding it straight. £70 / philips.co.uk
The buzzy barber
The complete clipper
Wahl 4in1 Multigroomer Wahl’s heavy-duty Multigroomer is a bit more industrial than most other beard trimmers – if you don’t believe us, listen to the racket it makes when you turn it on. Its rather basic attachments make it feel a bit DIY to use but it’s the only one here that can give haircuts as well. £64 / wahl.com
Remington MB4045 Beard Kit Remington’s Beard Kit comes with enough accessories to please at least two thirds of ZZ Top – including three different comb attachments, one of which will deal with beards up to 35mm in length, plus a sharp pair of scissors for taming unruly tufts and a boar-bristle brush. £32 / uk.remington-europe.com
The steady snipper
The stubble saver
The nostril nibbler
Babyliss 7897U Super Beard When you’ve put a load of time and effort into cultivating a mug rug, the last thing you want is for a slip of the hand to ruin months of growth. Babyliss’s Super Beard has a button that locks the guard attachment in place, so there’s no chance of ending up with a lopsided beard. £36 / babyliss.co.uk
Philips Series 5000 BT5200/13 It can be hard work to make it look like you don’t make an effort, but the shortest setting on Philips’ Series 5000 is great for maintaining a three-day stubble. With a 10mm maximum cutting length, it’s not designed for anything too bushy, but for everyday face maintenance it’s ideal. £35 / philips.co.uk
Braun MGK3060 The older you get, the more places you’ll find hair growing where it shouldn’t. As well as multiple comb attachments for dealing with hair on your face, Braun’s MGK3060 comes with a special tool for dealing with unwanted ear and nose hairs, plus a whole extra razor for wet shaving. £25 / uk.braun.com
HOW TO DECIDE 68
Struggling to find a gap for the soup spoon? Tom Wiggins is on hand with the best buzzers
1 Cutting crew There’s a big difference between an electric razor and a beard trimmer. If you want anything more than very light stubble, make sure you buy one with blades, not a foil.
2 Get the look Comb attachments with longer teeth (as with hair trimmers) are better for bushier beards, while the more boxy ones are better for keeping shorter efforts neat and tidy.
[ Photography Pete Gardner ]
EVERYDAY GROOMERS
BUSH TAMERS
SPECIALIST STRIMMERS
UPVOTED
UPVOTED
The whisker whisperer Panasonic ER-GB86 With three comb attachments offering 58 different length adjustments at half-millimetre increments, Panasonic’s ER-GB86 will happily take on face fuzz of pretty much any length. The longest one can cope with up to 30mm, which means it’s particularly suited to beards that’d make a Viking blush (not that you’d be able to tell). The teeth on each attachment are made from sturdy plastic, plus the whole thing’s completely waterproof, so you can rinse off any beardy build-up without having to worry about the blades going rusty. £77 / panasonic.com
3 Close control Some trimmers come with attachments for hard-to-reach zones. If yours doesn’t, think about also investing in something smaller like Gillette’s Fusion ProGlide Styler.
4 Keep it clean Some beard trimmers need to be oiled to keep the blades working at their best, but they’re not waterproof. If that sounds like a hassle, buy one you can just rinse under the tap.
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TESTED SONY RX100 VI
Sixth of the best The new iteration of Sony’s unbeatable RX100 compact has a monster zoom lens and, woohoo, a touchscreen £1150 / stuff.tv/RX100VI Q Know your Roman numerals? Then you’ll have worked out this is Sony’s sixth version of the flagship RX100 series. The VI packs the range’s most powerful zoom yet: it has a 24-200mm lens, equivalent to 8.3x zoom. It seems the Lumix TZ models finally have some zooming competition. Q The design might be familiar but that’s not a bad thing, because these cameras have always looked and felt great. The buttons and dials, although quite close together, are positioned where your finger and thumb naturally rest. No larger than a chunky chocolate brownie, it’ll easily fit in most pockets and you can wrap your entire hand around it. Q Sony is treating us to an LCD touchscreen here – finally. It doesn’t have full functionality, but it works for all the important stuff such as tap-to-focus. Q Behind that long lens you get a 20.1MP Exmor CMOS sensor, similar to the holy innards of Sony’s Alpha series. Other features include lightning-fast autofocus and full-res continuous shooting at 24fps, 4K video at up to 30fps, and 1080p slow-motion capture. But there are no mic ports for capturing decent audio. Q There’s USB charging, which is handy – you’ll want to get this cam charged at every opportunity as it gulps down battery juice like it’s just run a marathon.
Tech specs Sensor 20.1MP CMOS Optical zoom 8x Display Tilting 7.5cm touchscreen Video 4K @ 30fps, 1080p slow-mo Dimensions 102x58x43mm, 301g
Q Busy little thing
Q Get it before it’s gone
What you might lose from this Sony’s limited aperture, you gain in the zoom. Even at 100x our results were most pleasing, with really lovely depth and pin-sharp focus on the subject – in this case a bee that just wouldn’t sit still.
With 4-stop image stabilisation and ultra-rapid AF, this camera works best as a point-and-shoot miracle-worker. Many snappers will also be thrilled to see the addition of Eye AF mode, which tracks faces incredibly well.
STUFF SAYS A dinky yet luxurious point-and-shoot with handy zooming skills +++++ You’ll always find space for it, no matter how small your bags Natalya Paul
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This Sony hits all the right design notes, shoots a staggering 24fps at full resolution and has an AF faster than a mouse’s blink. Yes, the lack of a mic port is an oversight and the RX isn’t going to be at its best in low light, but the tilting touchscreen makes it mega-handy for taking subtle close-up street scenes and it’ll be just as good at sweeping landscapes. Plus that honking great zoom is truly a modern marvel.
TESTED BROMPTON ELECTRIC
Pedal, power
Brompton’s new leccy bike will give your legs a break on the daily commute – just make sure your arms are fit for purpose £2595 / stuff.tv/BromptonElectric Q Bromptons have tiny wheels, fold in half for easy carrying and ride as well as their larger-wheeled brethren. Surely adding electricity to the mix must mean a guaranteed hit? We can confirm the Brompton Electric is heaps more fun than taking the train all the way to work. Q The little motor in the front wheel emits a gentle hum when it’s whirred up to the restricted 15mph top speed; after that your legs are on their own. We had no trouble topping 30mph down the Mall in top gear. Q The downside of all that extra electrical power is the added weight – the battery pack and motor add a hefty 7kg over the standard edition. It’s not noticeable in the ride, but once folded it’ll certainly give you a bit of an extra workout carrying it up the stairs to the office. Q The battery pack does more than just provide a boost: it also powers the lights and has a USB charger for your phone – handy if a bit of GPS mapping has depleted your phone somewhat. There’s a carry strap hidden inside too, which makes lugging it back indoors less of a chore.
Q Wheely clever
Q Biggie smalls
The miniature motor was tuned by Formula E experts Williams Advanced Engineering to deliver power smoothly. Its advanced algorithms know when the wheel is turned too sharply, so it won’t zip you into the back of a taxi.
The power pack sits in the place normally reserved for your luggage, which is a minor niggle. We’d go for the large City Bag option (£130) to save having to bring an extra rucksack for your laptop and sandwiches.
Q During a week’s worth of commuting we got around 40 miles out of a full charge and accidently set a couple of Strava PBs. Topping the battery up to full took about four hours, but a half-hour charge gave us enough power to make it to the office.
Tech specs Gears 2 (add £120 for 6-speed) Battery 300Wh Range 50 miles Weight 13.7kg + 2.9kg battery
STUFF SAYS Carrying weight aside, this is the perfect urban electric runabout ++++, The perfect city runabout – if you’ve got a strong arm Ross Presly
Carrying this up the stairs at Waterloo was a bit of a shock to begin with, and it probably pushed my heart rate higher than it got while riding – but after a bit of practice folding, this became less of an issue. I found the bigger problem was the 15mph cut-out for assistance. A few extra mph on this legal restriction would make it a five-star bike – surely it would get more people out of cars too?
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Stuff Picks
Pet tech It’s reigning cats and dogs – so why not give our semi-intelligent masters the gadgets they deserve? [ Photography Mitch Payne ]
Pawbo munch KEY
FOR DOGS FOR CATS FOR ANYONE WHO FANCIES IT
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Matt Tate, Hot Stuff Editor To you and me, the Pawbo Munch probably looks like a fun but ultimately gimmicky accessory. Your dog/cat, on the other hand, knows it only as the mysterious glowing god of treat-giving. Whether you’re there in the house or out and about with a suitably connected phone (see right), the Munch can
dispense tasty pet snacks of all shapes and sizes on your order. And that’s not all: if Patch is the gambling type, there’s even a ‘slot machine’ game that releases treats when randomised symbols align. I only wish this gadget had been around during my own family puppy’s chewing-holes-through-walls phase. £109 / pawbo.com
MACHINE’S BEST FRIEND You’ll also need the Wi-Fi-enabled Pawbo+ (£149) to release treats via the app – otherwise you’ll have to be there to operate the remote.
STUFF PICKS
LET ME ENTERTAIN CHEW The Pawbo Munch’s animated LED screen should keep your pet occupied when you’re too busy to join in, and it’ll even play ‘catchy’ music.
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STUFF PICKS
DON’T SIT ON THE GEOFENCE With live on-map GPS tracking, it’s possible to draw a virtual fence and set an alert when Foo-Foo Trixiebell gets close to that main road.
THE GRATE OUTDOORS The Vita is designed for rough and tumble. It’s happy in water, doesn’t mind being shaken about, and its battery lasts up to 10 days.
KIppy vita Natalya Paul, Online Editor The Kippy Vita isn’t a breakfast biscuit to help you start the day right; it’s a GPS and activity tracker for your pooch or kitty, to ensure they’re safe and healthy. The tracker attaches to the collar and connects to the Kippy app, which is so easy to use you could probably get the dog to keep track
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of the cat with it. It’s waterproof too, should you have a pup that fancies a tussle with a turtle. You can also use it to calculate your pet’s daily calorie consumption, based on its activities and some whizzo algorithms. What’s that, you say? How about tracking their happiness? That’s down to you and those tummy tickles. £50 + £8/month / kippy.eu
STUFF PICKS
sure cat flap connect Richard Purvis, Managing Editor Microchip-reading cat flaps are nothing new – experts believe the Egyptians fitted them to some of the larger pyramids. But this one does more than just keep out hallway-weeing intruders: plug the accompanying Hub into your router and you’ll be connecting your cats to the internet. Don’t worry, you’re not about
to lose them to social media the same way you did the kids – it just means you can follow their movements via the Sure Petcare app. You can also set curfews, to keep them inside at night when you’ve had enough of being woken at 3am with the proud offering of a still-twitching mouse. Cat Flap £110, Hub £50 / surepetcare.com
CAT-A-LOGGING As well as giving alerts for entries and exits, the app compiles stats for how much time each cat is spending outside and how often they’re using the flap.
CAT-A-WALLING Fitting is as simple as it is with a normal cat flap: you just need a hole (and four AA batteries). You can buy tunnel extenders if it’s going through an exterior wall. 75
STUFF PICKS
GAME OF THROWS The app lets you schedule when you deliver treats to your pet (or the sofa). I’m thinking just as Bake Off starts, then every five minutes. I’m already salivating.
Ross Presly, Art Editor I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve never had a pet – no dogs, cats, lizards, hamsters or even a goldfish. I’ve never experienced unconditional love or heartbreaking loss at the inevitable end. Maybe I’m a worse person for it? But having spent so much time around gadgets, I’m all about hacking 76
them into another use that they maybe weren’t designed for. That’s why I’m mounting this pet monitor next to the TV and keeping it full of Skittles. It can fling treats up to 6ft, and with a bit of fine tuning I reckon I could get them straight into my mouth while I’m bingeing on the latest season of Narcos. Who’s a good boy? £219 / petcube.com
KEEP ’EM APPY Running out of treats? Re-order more with the app. It also enables you to deliver a treat remotely – you can see if your pet caught it in mid-air via an HD feed.
STUFF PICKS
smart pet trolley James Day, Editor A dear friend of mine has a Siamese cat called John. John, she insists, acts more like a dog and regularly joins her on train journeys across the country. They’re inseparable, so I’m pleased to have found the perfect Christmas present for John’s species-fluid qualities, because the Smart Trolley is suitable
for transporting felines or canines. It acts like one of those annoying suitcases with wheels that we’ve all tripped over. Fortunately, for times of increased people-traffic there are shoulder straps to transform it into a pet backpack. Add in plenty of cubby holes for tins of Sheba and suddenly John is travelling first class. £48 / amazon.co.uk
CAT-STRAPPED The Smart Trolley is all about versatility, so if John decides he wants to travel by car or bus there are straps for securing his carriage to the seatbelt.
DOG MESH Made from durable, water-resistant material, the main compartment is covered by a breathable mesh that lets your pet see what’s going on outside.
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TESTED HP OMEN 15 DC0029NA
Rate expectations HP’s latest gaming laptop has a 144Hz screen for super-smooth gaming – but is it a genuine player? £1250 / stuff.tv/HPOmen15 Q HP’s new gaming machine has a 1080p screen with 144Hz Nvidia G-Sync. That means eSports titles and less demanding games will run smoothly at frame rates beyond 100fps. Only trouble is, the GTX 1060 graphics chip isn’t fast enough to ensure that today’s demanding single-player titles work the display that hard. Q Aside from the screen, the GTX 1060 has the power to play the best games at their highest levels of quality – and it’s paired with a fantastic six-core Intel CPU that won’t balk at any task. Q HP’s machine looks the part, with industrial design and a dark, attractive finish. It’s a little chunkier than some other gaming laptops, at 25mm thick and 2.52kg on the scales, but it does offer plenty of connectivity – and it’s got B&O speakers, which serve up solid volume and audio quality. Q Battery life isn’t great, which is no surprise, and the fans are a little loud too so we’d definitely recommend wearing a headset. Q HP sells the Omen 15 at all sorts of specs – one with a better GPU, and several with weaker versions. Sadly, the beefier GTX 1070 won’t run the most demanding games beyond 100fps – so you still won’t be getting the most out of that 144Hz screen.
Tech specs Screen 15.6in 1920x1080 IPS with Nvidia G-Sync Processor 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 RAM 8GB OS Windows 10 Storage 1TB HD + 256GB SSD Battery life Up to 6 hours Dimensions 360x263x25mm, 2.52kg
Q Flat out
Q Twilight zone
The chiclet keyboard is great for typing and for casual gaming, but the flat, shallow buttons can’t compete with more conventional designs – or with mechanical keyboards – when it comes to high-end gaming.
HP includes software to monitor the key components and to alter the keyboard’s lighting, but it’s not too impressive: while the keyboard does have RGB backlighting, you can only alter the lights in four specific zones.
STUFF SAYS It’s speedy, but that screen isn’t as smooth as it’s specced up to be +++,, Worth a look for casual gamers, but not for the hardcore Mike Jennings
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This HP has good gaming and application pace alongside solid design, decent versatility and reasonable ergonomics – and at £1250, it’s not priced too badly for a gaming laptop. However, the headline feature is that 144Hz G-Sync screen, and this machine simply cannot push pixels fast enough to make use of G-Sync in the toughest situations. It’s also a little loud and hot, and battery life isn’t great.
TESTED BMW i8 ROADSTER
Roofless efficiency BMW’s i8 hybrid supercar has done away with its roof just in time for the British winter from £124,735 / stuff.tv/i8Roadster Q The BMW i8 is not your typical supercar. It doesn’t have a big 12-cylinder engine: its main power source is a tiny, super-boosted 3-cylinder engine borrowed from a Mini Cooper, aided by an electric motor driving the front wheels. Q This new Roadster version – with an auto-folding roof that collapses vertically into a slot behind the seats – also has a bigger hybrid battery, allowing it to hum around like a supercharged milk float for up to 33 miles. It can hit 75mph on pure electricity. Q Oh, you noticed the price? Well, it’s beautifully built and the tech kit list is impressive. The hi-res 8.8in infotainment display and BMW’s Professional Navigation system are standard, as are Harman Kardon speakers, a head-up display and an all-round camera/sensor system. Q Through the embedded SIM card, the sat-nav updates your route using live traffic info. You can talk to it either by using voice recognition or by writing out individual letters on the iDrive controller. BMW’s LCD-screened Display key fob also comes as standard. Q The BMW Connected Drive app allows you to connect your smartwatch or smartphone to the i8, syncing essential data including the amount of charge remaining in the hybrid battery. Good to know before you promise you’ll be there in 20 minutes.
Q In your face
Q Laser BM
As well as the standard dash and 8.8in infotaintment screen, you get a head-up display showing current speed, local speed limit and navigation directions. It floats in a ghostly manner over the bonnet, perfectly in your eyeline.
BMW says the i8 was the world’s first production car to get the option of LED laser headlights. Costing an extra £5100, they have a high-beam range of 600m, twice that of standard LED lamps.
Tech specs Screen 8.8in infotainment display Connectivity Bluetooth, USB Engines 1.5l petrol rear, electric motor front Gearboxes Petrol engine 6-speed auto, electric motor 2-speed auto
STUFF SAYS Like no other convertible supercar – and the planet thanks you for it +++++ This is the kind of car hybrid technology was invented for Hilton Holloway
The i8 Roadster offers the best of both worlds. It may only have a Mini engine, but it goes like an express train on the open road and is pretty incredible on bendy mountain ones too. Thank that electric motor, which pulls the front wheels and nose around tight bends without fuss. And when you’re done, you can cruise back though the city in silence using battery power alone.
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BETA YOURSELF
Using Google’s latest mobile OS is as easy as pie when you know where all the best bits are – Craig Grannell reveals the tastiest slices, so you can get more from your blower FIND YOUR WAY
without using the Overview. Want to kill an app? Swipe its preview upwards.
Q Try gestural navigation Android 9 Pie retains the traditional navigation buttons (back, home, overview) but only by default. We recommend swapping them out for the new gestural system. In Settings, head to System then Gestures and turn on the ‘Swipe up on home’ button. The back arrow will now be contextual, only showing when relevant. The home button will be a flat pill, but it works just as before.
Q Use the new Overview In the Overview, gestures more obviously boost speed and fluidity. Flick upwards on the home button to see large previews of open apps, like on iOS. Drag/flick the previews left or right to navigate them and tap an app to expand it.
Q Control screen rotation In Pie, you can still disable the display auto-rotate. But the new OS adds a bespoke rotate button in the navigation bar when rotation is possible. This locks your device to the other orientation until the button is pressed again or auto-rotate is reactivated.
Q Get at your apps
Q Pin an app
Also in the Overview, you’ll see shortcuts to regularly used apps at the bottom of the screen, along with a search bar. To access the apps drawer, drag/flick that pane up. The new home button also enables you to quickly switch between two apps by flicking right over it. This means you can jump quickly between, say, Chrome and Gmail,
App-pinning isn’t new, but it’s now simpler. Open Settings and under ‘Security & location’ go to Advanced, tap ‘Screen pinning’ and turn it on. In the Overview, tap an app’s icon and ‘pin’ to lock the device to that app. Hold the back and home buttons to unpin. In Settings, ‘Lock device when unpinning’ will stop someone nosing through your device.
SNAP HAPPY Q Take a screenshot
Lockdown In Settings > Security & Location > Lock screen, turn on ‘Show lockdown’. This adds lockdown to the power button long-press menu. A PIN is then required to unlock.
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You can still take a screenshot in the usual manner, by holding power and volume down. But Pie also offers a simpler way: hold the power button until a pop-up menu appears, and then tap Screenshot.
Q Edit your screenshot When editing, use the drag handles to crop your screenshot. You can also pinch-zoom the image within the crop frame. Underneath this area, you get pen and highlighter tools with a range of colours, and undo/redo buttons in case you make a horrible mess when scribbling.
MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE
HAVE A BROWSE In Settings, tap on Accessibility. Chances are you rarely or never explore this area. You should, because although the features within are primarily designed for people with specific needs, many available options can be beneficial to a much wider audience…
REMOVE ANIMATIONS For example, turn on ‘Remove animations’ and Android 9 Pie’s animations are either removed or massively sped up. If you suffer from a vestibular disorder, that means no longer getting dizzy; for everyone else it feels like a faster smartphone.
GET WELL SOON Q Heavy user?
POWER SAVER Q Boost battery life If it’s not on already, head to Settings > Battery > Adaptive Battery and turn on ‘Use adaptive battery’. Over time, your device learns your usage patterns. Apps that need more power are prioritised.
Q Manage brightness Turn on adaptive brightness in Settings > Display and your device will attempt to change your brightness settings to match your environment. Manually make adjustments in ‘Quick settings’ and they’ll subsequently be taken into account when automated changes are made.
In Settings > ‘Digital wellbeing’, the dashboard outlines your general device usage for the day, along with the number of unlocks and notifications received. Tap the graph to delve into per-app figures, and see how often your Android’s been in your mitts.
Q Learn to wind down On the Dashboard, tap ‘Wind down’. Turn the feature on and define a schedule during which it will be active. Turn on Greyscale to make your screen look less appealing when it’s time to go to bed, and use ‘Do not disturb’.
Q Set an app time limit Tap ‘No timer’ to bring up a timer menu, and define a maximum amount of daily usage for any app. When your allocation’s up, the icon will be greyed out until midnight.
TAME NOTIFICATIONS Q Block timewasters If you’re getting sick of an app bugging you with notifications, tap-hold one and then ‘Stop notifications’. Also, in Settings, go to ‘Apps & notifications’ > Notifications to see and disable notifications from apps that recently sent one.
Q Choose the best bits If you don’t fancy blocking an app’s communications with you entirely, instead tap the ‘info’ button. When the pane loads, tap ‘notifications’. You can then decide which kinds of notification the app can send, so you’ll only get the ones you want.
ADD A NEW MENU Under ‘Accessibility menu’, tap ‘Use service’ and ‘OK’. This adds an accessibility button to the navigation bar. Tap it and you’ll see single-tap buttons for a range of features. Here, quick settings and screenshots become accessible to one-thumb users.
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VERSUS SMART HEADPHONES
Very personal stereo
Headphones that customise their output to match your hearing: it’s a tidy idea, but which of these rival startups does it best?
[ Words Richard Purvis ]
Nuraphone
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Audeara A-01
What’s the story?
What’s the story?
As if they weren’t clever enough already, a summer firmware update has added active noise-cancelling to the skillset of these Australian-designed Bluetooth cans. Their main trick? Evaluating your hearing then adjusting the drivers’ output to boost the frequencies your naughty old ears have been hiding from you. In-ear buds do most of the work, while extra bass depth from the outer cups can be dialled in to taste.
The Australians are conspiring to take over the world, starting with a worldwide campaign of ear-based mind control. How else do you explain that Nura’s big rival, Audeara, is another Aussie company? Its ear-testing headphones look a lot more ‘normal’, but they also have Bluetooth and active noise-cancelling, and their claimed battery life of up to 35 hours – or even 45 if you keep the ANC switched off – gives them a clear edge.
Are they any good?
Are they any good?
Testing your hearing with the Nura app is a simple, fully automated process. Sit still, tell the cat to be quiet for a while then listen to a series of bloops and bleeps flitting through the frequency spectrum; the headphones build your profile based on how your ears respond, like a sort of advanced sonar. The results can seem over-processed at first, and there’s no way to dial the effect in gradually, but once your ears get attuned it’s a pretty spectacular hi-fi experience. Treble and bass are both enhanced, but not at the expense of clarity and space in the mids, while the noise-cancelling works superbly. Are these categorically better than normal high-end over-ears? We’re not 100% sold on that, but there’s nothing about the Nuras that isn’t ultra-classy.
Audeara’s testing is less magical, more medical. Listen to a series of repeated tones, adjusting the volume and telling the app when each one is no longer audible. Repeat for the other ear, and you’ll now see a graph that shows where all those Napalm Death gigs did the damage. Your custom sound can then be brought in bit by bit. The A-01s are closer to brutally honest studio monitors than flattering ‘lifestyle’ cans, with a clear stereo image and good separation in the mids. But even at 50%, all our testers found that the personalising process produced harsh treble and weak bass. Switching off the noise-cancelling actualy brings a much fuller response, but it’s still not a very likeable sound – and not one we’d dump our standard ’phones for.
Price £349 / stuff.tv/nuraphone O Bluetooth, USB (other cables optional) O Active noise-cancelling, mic for voice calls O Up to 20hrs’ battery life O 329g
Price £300 / stuff.tv/audeara O Bluetooth, USB, jack cable included O Active noise-cancelling, mic for voice calls O Up to 35hrs’ battery life O 255g
Stuff says +++++
Stuff says +++,,
Whether or not personalised hi-fi really is the future, these things sound fantastic
Nice concept, nice cans… but for now at least, the software’s holding them back
ENJOY THE (ALMOST) SILENCE LEWIS L’AMOUR Want some quiet music to test out that noise-cancelling? Start with this enigmatic and uniquely gorgeous oddity from 1983, a forgotten flop until its 2014 re-release. LIFT TO EXPERIENCE THE TEXUSJERUSALEM CROSSROADS Heavenly blasts of melodic post-rock separated by long stretches of swirling ambience. This came out in 2001, but the ‘final mix’ was only completed last year. MARK HOLLIS MARK HOLLIS It’s not quite up there with the last two Talk Talk records, but Hollis’s 1998 all-acoustic solo album is so airy and delicate you can smell the Wotsits on his breath.
VERSUS SMART HEADPHONES
1 Hot taps The big outer buttons on the Nuras’ earcups can be assigned custom functions, such as play/pause and turning the noise-cancelling on and off.
2
T S E T R E NN I W
2 Cold calls There’s no power switch on these headphones: put them on your ears and they’ll automatically switch on… and greet you by name.
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3 Pressing matters The Audearas have standard buttons for power, ANC and volume. The charging port is microUSB, unlike Nura’s odd proprietary system.
4
4 Testing times Like Nura, Audeara has given its cans a firmware update over the summer… but the ear-testing process remains sluggish and a little glitchy.
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T E S T E D M I C R O S O F T S U R FA C E G O
To boldly Go Microsoft’s practical yet affordable new beauty is here to persuade you that taking the plunge into tablet ownership is highly logical, Captain
1 4
from £379 / stuff.tv/SurfaceGo Like the last puppy left in the pet shop, tablets are a sort of cross-breed of smartphone (but less useful) and laptop (but less powerful or functional). These days no one seems to see them as either endearing or essential. Microsoft, however, thinks it’s worth having a bash at creating an affordable and stylish tablet that has all the functionality of a PC and some of the creative muscle you’d expect from an iPad. And it’s hit a lot of the right notes. The Surface Go might be the most useful tablet we’ve come across, with ample laptop imitation skills, decent enough media prowess, excellent sound, Windows Hello (Face ID), a front-facing camera that puts Apple’s iPads to shame, and a Type Cover accessory that’s going to transform this tablet into the PC you didn’t know you needed. We’re suckers for a cute little puppy… so will this one grow up to be a Crufts winner?
2 1 Business class This tab looks neat, stylish and professional: the sort of thing you’d feel content, maybe even smug, whipping out at the start of your meeting. Weighing barely 500g, with a 10in screen, it’s almost like a shrunken Surface Pro with kickstand and all.
2 Economy class For £379 you can’t expect a tiny power-python, but the Pentium Gold processor will cope with web-browsing, managing your emails and tinkering with the Office Suite apps that come as standard. You can do all this while blasting out Abba Gold on Spotify.
[ Words Natalya Paul ]
Good Meh Evil
T Pr his o, lo w ok ith s m like or a e r ‘fr ou ien Hu th ge nd dl ee b ed ier dg ez ed ’ Su e es ls ge rfa … w b s. ce ith u m t I’ll Th y o su e fin nl rp 5M ge y b ris P rs e g ing fro an ra ly nt yw bb br -fa ay ing illi c I’ll i a . n n p g It’ a t. c s j ss a m us o er tn ng ai ot am s bu in ilt g fo an I’ rt d w ms ha vid ith ur t. eo p m ri ed y se fre d iti ng nz by . ie ho d …b w ww eb e Af ut fin tr br ll it ow c ity yin sin ope Ph g t g… s ot o e o di is t h no u fu ge n a ph t a ot ll. os M w i ith pl cr ay os ar of ou t’s nd Pa w int ith 3 … Dt …a oo m nd ls or t ar e s he ec er 3: oo io 2 a l to us s w pe or ct k t ra as tio Th ks is on e . id ly Su ea re rfa l fo all ce r y P ar e ty n i pe sn op ’t in le cl w ud ill ed m , iss bu it. t
24 hours with the Surface Go
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4mins 30mins 40mins 50mins
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T E S T E D M I C R O S O F T S U R FA C E G O
3 Middle class Battery life is somewhere between mediocre and quite good. Microsoft promises 9hrs of video playback, but in our testing it fell shy of that. And if you’re juggling Word docs with YouTube videos plus heavy email usage, it’ll be more like 5hrs.
4 Show your class At 1800x1200 pixels, the touchscreen display is a long way short of the latest iPads. But text and video are sharp, colours are accurate, scrolling through holiday pictures is a dream… and for work (plus a bit of play) it’s more than adequate.
Tech specs Screen 10in 1800x1200 PixelSense touchscreen Processor Intel Pentium Gold RAM 4GB/8GB OS Windows 10 in S mode Storage 64GB eMMC / 128GB SSD Battery life Up to 9 hours Dimensions 245x175x8.3mm, 522g
Make it Go further
M ho ind ot yo – u, th do er o e’ dl s b ing Th ar w di e el it dd so y h an th y: un y eP w d sc e el is re n lb g en is ala re a lag a nc t f Th o ed r . w e , w so an £1 t t 00 ith me o T OK th us y e t pe ba ing hi Co ss so s a ve . It’ se r is ke s m r yb o io a m us u oa re rd com of st fic if bu p e a yo t d ac id u oe t t . sn ha Ba n ’t a US tt f ee st B- ery l c an C lif ro da to e i w rd gi s f de ve in d. it e, a aw n ee d th bo ere os ’s t. alw ay s
5 Class dismissed As an entertainment tool, the biggest drawback here is a lack of apps. Yes, most services work through the web browser, but that can be clunky. The key apps are covered – Netflix, WhatsApp, Spotify – but there’s no Amazon Video, Now TV or Sky Q.
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If you’re in the mood to spend a little more than £379, there are a few ways to soup up your Surface Go…
Q Revert to type
Q Draw the line
The Type Cover and Surface Pen don’t come in the box, but we reckon that keyboard is a must. It’s an extra £100. Note it can also serve as a protective screen cover when not in use.
The Surface Pen is another £100 optional extra. The Surface Go’s 180° kickstand comes in handy here: you’ll always be able to find the best angle for drawing on the screen.
Q Pick a card
Q RAM it home
Underneath the kickstand lurks a microSD card reader, which can be used to expand storage and to read media. You also get a USB-C port as well as the main charging input – one up on the iPads.
The basic Surface Go has a 64GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM. If you really need a machine that’s capable of speedy multitasking, the 128GB version (£509) has an SSD and 8GB of RAM.
The Go is an ultra-portable tablet that’s both stylish and useful. Like having a mini PC on you at all times, it’s reassuring to know you can fix that last bit of work on the way to or from the office… or take it to meetings instead of lugging your laptop around. The processor is adequate for everyday tasks and the screen is lovely. @NatalyaPaul
STUFF SAYS +++++ Your go-to for tying up loose ends at work and then kicking back and streaming box-sets in the evening
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GROUP TEST BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS
3 OF THE BEST
Bluetooth speakers Wireless music-blasters keep on coming, and keep getting better. Take your pick from the latest crop of portable noisemongers…
TE W ST IN NE R BEST FOR POOL PARTIES
BEST FOR SOUND QUALITY
BEST FOR ROCK POWER
Loewe Klang M1
Marshall Kilburn II
UE Megaboom 3
What’s the story?
What’s the story?
What’s the story?
We generally associate German brand Loewe with ultra-stylish, ultra-unaffordable tellies, but the Klang M1 is a Bluetooth speaker with a much more Santa-appropriate price tag. Minimalist in design, the stainless steel housing has no visible screws or fixings, and comes with a leather wrist strap. Sound comes from two high/mid-range drivers and a pair of mid/bass passive membranes.
The Kilburn II isn’t exactly a shrunk-down Marshall speaker cabinet, but it is pretty rock’n’roll. It has volume and EQ knobs up top – you’ll need your phone for play/pause and skip – and a velour-lined handle… not that you’ll be wanting to take this 3kg beast on short-haul flights. The battery lasts up to 20hrs at mid-level volume, and a neat LED gauge lets you see how much juice is left.
The Ultimate Ears mission statement has always been clear and simple: give the people ultra-durable Bluetooth speakers that go really flipping loud. The newest addition to the Megaboom line generates even more 360° sound, while its modestly dubbed Magic Button allows you to play, pause and skip songs without needing to reach for your phone.
Is it any good? The cute Klang M1 is half the size and weight of Loewe’s old Bluetooth Speaker 2Go, but offers equally thrilling sound and the same plush all-metal design for a smaller price. It’s a sophisticated bit of kit, with 12hrs’ playtime and a two-hour rapid recharge. You can pair two for stereo sound and use it for hands-free calls, and it’s all controlled with simple buttons.
Is it any good? The Kilburn II isn’t all about brute force. For a start it has an extra driver on the back, pushing out bonus treble. This really does help, and sound dispersal is actually quite wide. The EQ dials are also surprisingly useful, letting you control the politeness of the bass and the zing of the treble without ever sounding less than pleasant.
Is it any good? All in all, the Megaboom 3 easily matches the performance we’ve come to expect from UE. While much of the speaker’s innards remain the same as the Megaboom 2, it’s had its passive radiator tweaked for even punchier bass performance. Plus it’s now dustproof as well as waterproof, making it as good on the road as it is in the pool.
Price £169 / stuff.tv/KlangM1
Price £269 / stuff.tv/KilburnII
Price £170 / stuff.tv/Megaboom3
Stuff says +++++
Stuff says ++++,
Stuff says +++++
Exceptional build quality and sound in a comprehensive compact speaker
A rocking speaker that can go from polite to party monster with the twist of a dial
You’ll struggle to find a better, or more fun, portable Bluetooth speaker 87
SW IT IT UP CH … 88
ONE SATECHI MULTI-PORT HUB
TWO APPLE LEATHER SLEEVE
Apple might be ready for a brave new world where the only port is Thunderbolt, but you probably aren’t. Fortunately, this multi-port hub lets you plug in almost anything: SD and microSD cards, three USB 3.0 cables, a gigabit Ethernet cable and an HDMI 4K display. It’ll even do pass-through charging, perfect for the office. £100 / amazon.co.uk
Having splashed out on a new MacBook Pro, the last thing you want is it getting all scratched up. Apple’s leather sleeve – in ‘midnight blue’, ‘saddle brown’, or black – keeps your notebook protected in your bag. Not made of money? Try Inateck’s Dark Gray case: 14 quid on Amazon, with a mouse bag. £179 / apple.com
THREE POSTURE STAND Notebooks are convenient but not that great ergonomically. For long Mac sessions, use a stand to raise the screen to eye height – and an external keyboard and trackpad. The Posture Stand is an adjustable effort that doubles as a standing desk, helping you to pretend you’re keeping fit while you faff about on Facebook. £60 / backpainhelp.com
NO TH W IS DO …
TH TH EN ES GE E… T
INSTANT UPGRADES
AFFINITY PHOTO
1 GO DARK
2 KEEP THINGS TIDY
3 OPEN APPS LESS
Apple’s macOS Mojave update has the kind of new toys that make your MacBook Pro feel like a new Mac. Head to System Preferences and, under General, click ‘Dark’. You’ll get an instant dark mode, for working into the wee small hours without frying your retinas. Fancy something a bit more subtle? In Desktop & Screen Saver, select a dynamic desktop that’ll slowly change as you move through the day.
If your Mac desktop looks like someone sprayed documents everywhere using a hose, bring order to it with Stacks. Control-click the desktop and then select ‘Use stacks’. Define how they’re grouped in ‘Group stacks by’. You’ll then have little piles of similar documents you can expand with a click, scrub through with a two-finger swipe, or preview as one by tapping the space key.
Apple’s revamped Finder and Quick Look both reason you shouldn’t need to open apps to perform basic tasks. The Finder Gallery view is all big previews and quick switching between files. The adjacent Preview pane offers extra details such as photo metadata and quick actions for rotating images, marking up and creating PDFs – as does Quick Look, so no need to faff about in Preview.
Don’t want to splash out on a Photoshop subscription? Try this £49 app, which takes full advantage of the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. Mac App Store
MOOM
[ Words Craig Grannell ]
Although MacOS would quite like you to work in full-screen mode, you’ll probably still spray windows everywhere. Moom ($10) lets you control them with shortcuts. manytricks.com
4 GET SNAP HAPPY
5 TAKE A NOTE
6 SECURE YOURSELF
Continuity is one of Apple’s big things of late – that notion of the interconnectedness of its various devices. Previously, you could hurl a web page in Safari or a half-finished email in Mail from your iPhone to your Mac. Now, you can use a device’s camera to directly inject snaps into compatible apps, such as Pages, Keynote and Notes. Just be aware they won’t also end up in your Photos library.
The Voice Memos app arrived on iPhone way back in iOS 7, and stubbornly remained rooted there alone. Sure, your iPhone is the closest Apple device in form factor to a dictaphone, but you may like to make recordings on other Apple kit too. Well, now you can. Voice Memos is built right into macOS Mojave (and iPad as of iOS 12), and iCloud syncs your notes between devices.
You can ask Siri “Show me my passwords” to quickly access the relevant section in Safari’s preferences. You’ll then be able to update passwords across multiple accounts. MacOS also automatically creates, autofills and stores (in iCloud Keychain) unique passwords for new logins. One-time codes sent via SMS appear as autofill in Safari and in tap-to-enter fashion on the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar.
BETTER TOUCH TOOL Starting at $6.50, this amazing utility is used to define shortcuts for Mac input devices – such as keyboard triggers. On a MacBook Pro you can create Touch Bar actions. folivora.ai
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T E S T E D H U AW E I M AT E 2 0 L I T E
Huawei’s latest mid-priced phone is really just a starter before the main course of the Mate 20 Pro… and it’s left our stomachs grumbling £379 / stuff.tv/Mate20Lite With a name like Mate 20, you’d be right to expect good things from Huawei’s latest handset. Well, that’s 10 whole Mates better than the Mate 10, right? Sorry to be the bearers of bad news. Think of the Mate 20 Lite as the entrée before the main course. The full-fat Mate 20 Pro will arrive later in the year, so this is just a taster. It might end up looking like a case of Huawei’s eyes being bigger than its stomach, though. The very similar Honor Play arrived barely a month ago, for £100 less… and on paper there’s very little to separate them. Look and feel is where Huawei hopes the Mate 20 Lite can make the biggest impression. Its front and back are made from glass, sandwiched around a metal frame. It’s what you’ll find in most of this year’s flagship phones, whereas the cheaper Honor makes do with metal. Does it feel premium? You betcha. Would you pay extra for it? Well, that depends what’s going on under the skin…
1 Lite-ness of touch The screen is long and thin, and the bezels are skinny, so this phone doesn’t feel as big as it really is. The fingerprint sensor has been shunted to the back. It’s perfectly placed for your digits to rest on, but with face unlock built in, you may not even need it.
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3 Greased Lite-ning? The Mate 20 Lite makes do with a mid-range Kirin 710 CPU – an octa-core chip, but not nearly as efficient or as fast as the Kirin 970 found in the P20 Pro. Still, apps load quickly, there’s little in the way of stutter and most games run well.
2 Blinded by the Lite Huawei has stayed sensible with the specs, using an LCD panel and 2340x1080 resolution to keep costs down, and to avoid sapping too much battery – it has the same specs and size as the Honor Play’s. It’s fairly colourful, with decent contrast and clarity.
[ Words Tom Morgan ]
Good Meh Evil
H 6. ow 3i 2 n s 01 cr 8: ee a n, mid sli m ra Th be ng te e ze e p ch fac ls ho isn e s an n ’t ca da ew up nn no ith w er ith is tc a Go h! q th u ne t d e i c ed ec fla k, a d en gs ev hi en on t h ps if e gl a . th e: dp e t Th he ho 4K e ne r e ’s s? HD disp aj Y R lay ac ou TV ’s kp w p isn re or on t. ’t t ’t ty fe g Th el o ing od yo e u c no w bu t or t an ch rie yo hi isn d. ur de ’t it all in th th a V eS to co iew lo in et btr ur g tin us s s an gs ive hi gle m an ft s en d w ar he e u. d ny e c ou en st t, b ra u y tt to he Th o Ik e fa ee sp r. p b ea lo ker ck a ing t t it he b w o It’ ith tt ar s a m om en fa y is ’t st pa O qu p lm K ite ho . , bu as ne, t sli bu ck t s as om … th e lo and ey tra ng I co ns er ’ve uld itio fo be rm e be ns … or n w e i ai t nt in en g se a s ap plit ps se to co op nd en .
24 hours with the Mate 20 Lite
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T E S T E D H U AW E I M AT E 2 0 L I T E
Tech specs Screen 6.3in 2340x1080 IPS LCD Processor Kirin 710 octa-core RAM 4GB OS Android 8.1 Oreo with EMUI Cameras 20MP + 2MP rear, 24MP + 2MP front Battery 3750mAh Storage 64GB (plus microSD) Dimensions 158x75x7.6mm, 172g
5
Lite and shade The Mate 20 Lite isn’t rocking Huawei’s very best camera tech, but the numbers sound promising…
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5 A Lite that never goes out The best thing about how phone makers are switching to taller, thinner screens? Bigger batteries. This one gets a 3750mAh cell, and that’s a very good thing. If you’re really careful, the Mate 20 Lite really can go the two-day distance.
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4 Many apps make Lite work EMUI, Huawei’s custom skin that sits on top of Android Oreo, is very Apple-esque, with multiple home screens full of apps instead of a drawer (although there’s an option to put one back in). There’s also a load of Huawei bloatware you’ll never need to use.
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Q Four eyes
Q Don’t be too piccy
You get a 20MP sensor on the back and 24MP on the front – that’s a lot of pixels, and they’ve each got secondary 2MP snappers backing them up, although they’re only there for depth-sensing.
Some of the Mate’s portrait photos look like their backgrounds were blurred in Microsoft Paint, with plenty of jagged edges, but feed it enough light and this phone can take respectable photos.
Q Nifty shades
Q All to Play for?
Colours are well-judged, only sometimes veering towards oversaturation. Shots are exposed naturally and detail is captured clearly. Zoom in, though, and you’ll see the processing limitations.
We’re not convinced the extra pixel count makes photos look dramatically better than the 16MP Honor Play’s, but low-light performance is a step above the Honor’s, thanks to the f/1.8 aperture.
The Mate 20 Lite doesn’t have any obvious failings – it’s a decent enough mid-range blower with good looks, a respectable camera and performance that’s right on the money. But the hike in price to get this instead of the Honor Play is just too big, considering the differences between the two are really only skin-deep. @TomMorgan3
STUFF SAYS +++,, A design refresh isn’t quite enough when rivals and other Huaweis offer better specs for less
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T E S T E D C A N O N P O W E R S H O T S X 74 0
Baby zoomer Why go to the mountain when it can come to you, courtesy of Canon’s super-zooming compact snapper? £350 / stuff.tv/CanonSX740 Q These days the phone in your pocket is pretty much all you need for snapping a great shot. But – for now at least – there are still some things your trusty handset can’t quite muster. Take cameras like the Canon PowerShot SX740, with its whopping great 40x optical zoom lens. Now you can get up close and personal with distant landmarks, zoo animals and… well, whatever takes your fancy. Q Other features include 4K video recording, a tilting screen, manual control and up to 10fps shooting. Not bad for a travel shooter that’s as compact as it is wallet-friendly. Q Cramming a 40x lens inside a body that fits snugly in your pocket is an impressive feat, but otherwise there’s nothing revolutionary about the SX740: if you’ve ever used a Canon compact before you’ll be at home here. On top is a dinky mode dial, and the buttons on the back are grouped to the right of the screen for easy one-handed shooting. Q One button worth singling out is the Zoom Frame Assist button. Hold this down if your subject disappears from view, then locate it and release to zoom back in. Q The tilting screen takes up the rest of the back of the screen. It goes all the way forwards, making it ideal for selfies, but it’s not touch-sensitive. For some of us it’s a bit strange having to go back to old-fashioned buttons.
Tech specs Sensor 20.3MP CMOS Optical zoom 40x Display Tilting 7.5cm LCD Video 4K @ 25fps, 1080p @ 50fps Dimensions 110x64x40mm, 299g
Q Wide boy
Q Sunny side up
In bright conditions, the overall impression of detail is very good at the wide-angle end of the lens. At high zoom settings there’s a little bit of fuzziness, but nothing unexpected for a compact in this price range.
The 1/2.3in 20.3MP sensor is smaller than we’re used to these days. It means this camera is not so well equipped to produce the goods in low light… but if it’s your holiday camera, you may well not care about that.
STUFF SAYS A solid travel cam that goes big on the zoom but small on the extras ++++, Pocket this if you love a good zoom but don’t want a DSLR Amy Davies
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If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, pocket-sized cam and your main consideration is zoom ratio, then the Canon SX740 is a great choice. It’s also not too damaging on the old bank balance. Clearly it represents a compromise – whether you’re happy with the low-light performance resulting from such a small sensor is really down to personal preference, but this is certainly worth thinking about as a holiday snapper.
T E S T E D S P H E R O B O LT
Roll player
From Raspberry Pi to Lego Boost, there’s no shortage of devices aimed at getting kids into coding. This gaudy ball is Sphero’s latest attempt… £150 / stuff.tv/SpheroBolt Q If you’ve seen one of Sphero’s robots before, you know what to expect here. It’s basically a ball that you control from your phone. It has a hard, scratch-proof shell, which is good because it’s going to crash into your walls. A lot. Q The Bolt has a matrix of mini LEDs that can flash, change colour, display emoticons, spell out words and more. The shell is see-through, giving you a good view of the LEDs and the magnetometer, which will undoubtedly intrigue curious kids. You control this toy with two apps, Sphero Edu and Sphero Play – more details on those below left. Q As well as programming it to perform manoeuvres, you can also tell the Bolt to play random sounds, or to read something out (“Hello you,” for example). However, the Bolt doesn’t have a speaker, so it plays through your phone – which lessens the impact a bit if you’re driving it up to an unsuspecting house guest. Q All the coding programmes work well, and if you put in a bit of time they can be quite involved. There is a slight delay between certain actions, but generally things flow pretty seamlessly – and there’s something really gratifying about watching the Bolt act out what you’ve programmed into it.
Q Play time
Q School time
The Play app includes three games. In Exile II, there’s a Space Invaders-style spaceship. Lightspeed Drifter is a futuristic racer in F-Zero style, while Round Trip has you rotating the Bolt to guide a bouncing ball.
Sphero Edu is the educational app. Once you sign in, you choose a role: Learner, Educator or Parent. Connect to the Bolt and you can programme a set of manoeuvres, sounds and flashing light patterns.
Q If we’re being picky, the games are a little derivative. But they’re fun, and they could well be the gateway drug you need to get your kids into coding.
Tech specs Lights 64-LED matrix Sensor Magnetometer Battery life 2hrs+ Connectivity Bluetooth Dimensions 73x73x73mm, 816g
STUFF SAYS The Bolt proves learning can be fun, even if coding isn’t your bag +++++ Every kid should try coding – and the Bolt is a fine way to start Joe Svetlik
The Bolt is great fun, and educational to boot. Driving it can be a bit sluggish, and we hope your skirting boards are up to taking a few knocks. But once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty intuitive. You have to reconnect to the Bolt every time your phone goes to sleep, which is a bit of a pain, but it’ll keep the kids entertained for months to come. And even if they (or you) don’t get on with the coding part, it’s still a laugh.
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TWO WEEKS WITH THE GOOGLE HOME MAX
Home improvement Big on sound but relatively small in stature, Google’s flagship smart speaker wants to be a part of your family… Andrew Williams makes it a part of his home for a fortnight £399 / stuff.tv/HomeMax You don’t need a specific device to set up a Home Max. iPhones will do the job as well as an Android.
DAY 01 Afraid to buy a smart speaker? Worried Google and Amazon will record your every word and sell it to the highest bidder? Well, they probably will. But it’s too late anyway because your phone has been tracking you for a decade. Might as well give up completely and buy a Google Home Max. This is the new big beast of Google Assistant smart speakers. It’s £399, which
places it between the Apple HomePod and Sonos Play:5 on cost. Well, it sounds bigger than the HomePod and is obviously light years smarter than the Play:5. Do a bit of internet-based Home Max research and it’s easy to believe this speaker is some comically huge creation that’ll dwarf your sofa and look flat-out silly in most rooms. But it only comes across as a monster
It’s cute and slightly tubby-looking, like a Moomin, which helps avoid the ‘bachelor pad’ look of overly techy gadgets
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online because the HomePod is smaller than most people expect. As I discover once it’s out of the box, this is every bit a normal-size ‘large’ wireless speaker, the kind you could use as your main source of music at home. Google has gone for a rounded, bulbous style. Much like modern city cars, wireless speakers seem to get more soft-edged and cuddly by the year. The front is a curvy fabric grille, while the back is partly made from soft-touch plastic. It could almost pass for a distant relative of Apple’s old Hi-Fi speaker dock from 2006. It has more
in common with that than with the HomePod, looks-wise. Google’s Home Max is also clearly from the same species as the Home and Home Mini. Moomins of the smart speaker world, they’re cute and slightly tubby-looking, which helps avoid the ‘bachelor pad’ look of overly techy gadgets. Plugged in and turned on, there’s no screen on the Max, but there is a little LED array under the grille that lets you know the volume level as you turn it up and down. And they light up when you say the “OK Google” wake words.
LO N G -T E R M T E S T
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Donut of Truth™
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01 Easy-on-the-eye styling will be fine for most homes 02 Does a good job of hearing your commands... 03 ...and replies with a more natural tone than rivals
04 The (non-smart) Sonos Play:5 has a similar but more refined sound 05 The touch controls don’t look very slick for such an advanced piece of kit
Tech specs Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, aux-in, Google Assistant Colour options Chalk, charcoal Dimensions 337x190x154mm, 5.30kg
DAY 2 The Google Home Max is already proving to be a great listener. It uses a series of six far-field microphones peppered along its sides, top and front. Like other smart speakers, they use beam forming to hone in on your voice and ignore other ambient noise in the room. Google’s voice recognition and synthesis is a lot more natural-feeling than that of Apple or Amazon. Don’t dump your therapist just yet, but you may well find talking to the Home Max less clunky than you fear.
DAY 4 The Home Max can control all of the most popular smart home gear, such as Philips Hue and LIFX lights, Tado heating systems and Netgear security cams. But I’m using it as a music-only box for now. Talking to it is, for the most part, optional. It has Spotify Connect support, and apps that support Google Cast let you treat the Max more like a normal wireless speaker. And of course there is a switch on the back to mute the mics, for those who want big sound without Big Brother eavesdropping in the background.
DAY 7 There are two speakers’-worth of drivers hiding behind that grille: two 4.5in woofer drivers that can move back and forth much more than the norm for effective ultra-deep bass, and a tweeter paired with each. It has seriously deep bass, with enough power to make you think a subwoofer may be hidden somewhere else in the room.
DAY 11 I’ve just tried it out as a funnyshaped soundbar, thanks to the 3.5 aux input on the back, and it worked pretty well.
DAY 14 If you want a smart speaker that can blow the doors off a party, the Google Home Max is the best you can get right now. All the smarts of the cheaper Home speaker are here, naturally, and the larger drivers offer much more powerful bass. It isn’t quite the last word in all-round sound quality – the Sonos Play:5 has more refinement and greater dynamic range – and at some point, a smart version of it will appear. But if you can’t stand the wait, the Max will see you right.
STUFF SAYS A ready-toparty smart speaker… as long as that party isn’t full of audiophiles ★★★★✩
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TESTED GAMES
PS4 / stuff.tv/SpiderMan
Marvel’s Spider-Man There’s no timewasting recap of how Spidey got his powers in this game, which is great news, but is there more to it than just swinging between skyscrapers and beating up baddies? Hell yes… he first thing you see in Marvel’s Spider-Man is an actual spider. Dangling outside Peter Parker’s New York City apartment. Within seconds, you’re flying past the beastie and swinging among the skyscrapers of Manhattan with the ease of a seasoned Spidey. The game makes a thrilling first impression by immediately putting players in the Spandex of an experienced web-slinger, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for growth. While the game’s
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satisfyingly intuitive mechanics allow you to feel like a do-gooding superhero right out of the box, its many RPG-flavoured systems let you progress Spidey into an even better day-saving badass. Levelling up allows players to invest points in a trio of ‘skill trees’, focused on Innovator, Defender and Webslinger paths. Brimming with active and passive perks and abilities, these trees offer the opportunity to upgrade existing powers or unlock entirely new ones. Players have the freedom
to focus on abilities that improve acrobatic prowess, combat skills, or various combinations of the two. But the addictive levelling loop is just the beginning – because actually unleashing all Spidey’s acquired skills, powers and abilities is where the real fun is at. Something as simple as sliding through the legs of an enemy, before beating him down from behind, feels fantastic. Credit is due to the game’s fantastic controls, which pack a rewarding
punch during combat and give physics the finger when navigating the cityscape. If you can get past the game’s more formulaic elements and old-school design decisions, you’ll discover one of the Marvel icon’s absolute best interactive adventures to date. The addictive progression path, engaging combat and thrilling web-swinging not only overshadow the game’s flaws – they make them fun in spite of themselves. Matt Cabral
STUFF SAYS Some minor gameplay flaws can’t keep Spider-Man from flying high ++++✩ 98
TESTED GAMES
3 of the best superhero games
Batman: Return to Arkham Still the gold standard for superhero games, and an obvious inspiration for Spidey’s new PS4 exclusive, the Arkham series is renowned for its satisfying close-quarters combat and narrative twists worthy of the comics.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
The skill trees let you, for example, enhance Spidey’s acrobatic prowess.
Juggle baddies, cocoon them in webs and use them as human wrecking balls!
Love Spider-Man but own an Xbox? ‘Console’ yourself with this Lego outing in which the web-slinger starred last year. It’s a family-friendly superhero pick’n’mix, letting you play as anyone from Black Panther to a cowboy Captain America.
Injustice 2 With an enormous roster of DC superheroes and a great story mode, this is one of the best fighters you can play, whether you’re a hardcore genre fan or a baffled newcomer. Always wanted to see Catwoman punching Hellboy halfway into tomorrow? This is your game.
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TESTED GAMES
PS4, Xbox One, PC / stuff.tv/Forsaken
Destiny 2: Forsaken This latest DLC has given Bungie’s shared-world shooter a major update, including a much better story – and it might just be enough to save the series estiny has had something of a rough ride in the four years since the original game’s release. The franchise has been a standard-bearer for the concept of ‘games as a service’: titles that offer regularly refreshed challenges and updated content in order to keep people playing (and paying) regularly for a long period of time – and at times developer Bungie has struggled to find the right balance. Destiny 2 delighted everyone at launch, but soon after it became clear that Bungie’s attempts to cater to the casual crowd had left the rest of us with nothing to do after a few weeks. Since then there’s been a concerted effort to win back players, with a decent (if rather unspectacular) second DLC, a major reworking of Destiny 2’s nuts and bolts and now Forsaken, a major expansion DLC that adds a ton of new stuff to do. Destiny 2’s plotline was a step up from anything in the first game merely by virtue of having a coherent story, but Forsaken takes
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things further with its engaging Western-style revenge plot. There’s more emotional and moral weight in the story missions than anything previously seen in Destiny. We won’t spoil the plot, but it begins with a prison break of one sort and ends with another of an entirely spookier kind. While there’s nothing massively novel about the story missions’ gameplay, the fights are enjoyable. You’ll also find a vast amount of post-campaign stuff to get your teeth into here, with the ability to grind to the new maximum power level in a variety of ways. All-new game mode Gambit is a joy to play. It mixes PVE with PVP, pitting four players against another group in a race to kill enemies, bank motes and beat a huge boss. It should hopefully become a staple of the series from now on. Forsaken has revitalised the series and brought it to its most healthy place since The Taken King came out back in 2015. If you own Destiny 2, you should probably own Forsaken. Sam Kieldsen
Forsaken introduces two new areas, filled with patrols and region chests.
Dozens of new exotic weapons and armour pieces have been added to the mix.
STUFF SAYS A welcome overhaul that knocks Destiny 2 into much healthier shape ++++, 100
TESTED GAMES
PS4, Xbox One, PC / stuff.tv/ShadowTomb
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Globetrotting Lara heads to South America for the trilogy’s high-stakes finale. Have we seen it all before, or is this worth shelling out 50 quid for? ideo gaming’s foremost explorer (sorry, Nate) is back for Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The third and final instalment of the reboot trilogy has Lara Croft heading for deepest South America to once again race shady organisation Trinity to a magical and potentially worldchanging artefact. The plot – apparently aided by historians and cultural consultants – takes you to some pretty interesting places, particularly as you learn more about the villain of the piece, Dr Dominguez, and the natives who fear him. The Peruvian jungle is a simply magnificent creation. Playing with headphones on (recommended), you can hear screeching monkeys clambering through the treetops above and the not-so-friendly purring of jaguars stalking you through the bushes. As you make your way through immaculately detailed foliage and muddy swamps, crossing creaky rope bridges, you’ll encounter massive stone temples that clearly don’t get a lot of visitors. Like its
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In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight… but that jaguar’s definitely awake.
Cracking puzzles involves shooting rope arrows, pulling levers and sending things crashing around.
predecessors, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is made up of hub worlds littered with murals, documents, survival caches and hidden tombs; this jungle is one of them, but you’ll also spend a lot of time in the game’s numerous towns and settlements. As you progress through the game you’ll gradually unlock upgrades in three skill categories: Seeker, Scavenger and Warrior. There are also some brilliant fights throughout, and feeling like a near-superpowered jungle warrior never gets boring. Meanwhile, the puzzles remain relatively short and simple once you know what’s required of you. You can’t shake the feeling that you’ve done it all before, though, and this is no radical reinvention. Still, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is without doubt the best of the bunch, a veritable rollercoaster of a game that gives players a lush South American jungle to explore, tombs crafted with real care, and set-pieces that’ll rival anything you see in the cinema this year. Matt Tate
STUFF SAYS A thrilling finale for one of the finest action/adventure series ever ++++✩ 101
DIGITAL EDITION
Available from the App Store, Google Play Newsstand and Kindle Newsstand
TOP TEN
This gadget has leapt straight outta testing and into our rankings.
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OF EVERYTHING Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten placings.
HOT BUY BARGAIN BUY UPDATE Searing with techy genius, a product that’s set our hearts aflame.
A solid gold bargain. Worth owning, regardless of cashflow.
Smartphones 104 Tablets, mobile games 105 Headphones 106 Wearables 107 Laptops 108 Hi-fi 109 TVs 110 Soundbars, 111 smart speakers Home cinema, consoles 112
Games Tech toys, electric cars VR headsets & games Smart home Drones, compact cameras System cameras Budget buys How to buy… smart lights
113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120
HOW TO USE THEM
TOP TENS SMARTPHONES
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HOT BUY
While Samsung and Apple’s war for smartphone supremacy rages on, Huawei has sauntered up and knocked both companies off their feet with the P20 Pro. Serious snappers will love this flagship phone thanks to the triple-lens camera, with 5x zoom and a 40MP main sensor. Add to that a quite awesome AMOLED display, lightning-fast internals and a top-notch design, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for the best new smartphone of 2018.
TIPS & TRICKS Activating ‘Natural Tone’ in settings will adjust the screen’s brightness according to your environment.
Stuff says +++++ That triple-lens cam gives the P20 Pro the edge in the smartphone wars
To capture a screenshot, simply double-tap the front of the P20 Pro with your knuckle.
O NOW ADD THIS AModern Huawei P20 Pro Case With its fragile back, you’ll want a case for your P20 Pro – one that accommodates the three sensors. £6.99 / amazon.co.uk
Turn on ‘Face unlock’ in ‘Security & privacy’ and you can wake up the P20 Pro with just a glance.
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6 7 OnePlus 6
Apple iPhone X
from £469 / stuff.tv/OnePlus6
from £959 / stuff.tv/iPhoneX
Once again, OnePlus has banged out a superb bargain phone with all the sought-after features of a high-end handset for a much less daunting price. With a glass design, bezel-less front, supercharged internals and OLED display, it’d be greedy to ask for more.
We’ll see how the new iPhones shake up these listings next month… but for now, the X is undeniably a fantastic phone with a majestic design, excellent Face ID, a gorgeous display and a versatile camera. One of the best all-round handsets you can buy.
BARGAIN BUY
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9 UPDATE
Stuff says +++++ Bow down to the bargain kings: OnePlus has aced it yet again
Stuff says +++++ An awesome iPhone that goes toe to toe with Android’s best offerings
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Samsung Galaxy S9 +++++ £739 / stuff.tv/S9 Samsung’s flagship isn’t a huge upgrade on the Galaxy S8, but it’s still a very welcome one.
Honor 9 Lite +++++ from £149 / stuff.tv/Honor9Lite Cutting-edge design at a price that won’t shred your wallet: this is an excellent budget phone.
Google Pixel 2 XL +++++ from £549 / stuff.tv/Pixel2XL This Pixel sequel offers an incredible camera and the definitive Android experience.
Moto G6 Plus +++++ £239 / stuff.tv/MotoG6Plus Superb both on paper and in use, the G6 Plus raises the bar when it comes to affordable phones.
Honor View 10 +++++ £370 / stuff.tv/View10 A fantastic phone at a fantastic price, if not the same kind of outright bargain as the Honor 9.
Samsung Galaxy Note9 ++++, from £899 / stuff.tv/Note9 You’ll have to pay a premium for the S-Pen and extra screen, but this is a superb phone for creatives.
Sony Xperia XZ2 ++++, from £630 / stuff.tv/XZ2 Sony’s best handset yet offers plenty, but we’re hoping for a lot more from the XZ3…
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW PHONES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTPHONES
O Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated
Huawei P20 Pro £669 / stuff.tv/P20Pro
TOP TENS TABLETS
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MOBILE GAMES TOP TENS
105
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HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Apple iPad Pro 10.5in from £619 / stuff.tv/iPadPro
Data Wing £free / Android, iOS
The 9.7in iPad Pro was already sitting comfortably as our favourite tablet, but that wasn’t good enough for Apple. Rather than giving its flagship tablet a few minor tweaks, it introduced a bigger screen and an immensely potent processor. In fact, this device is so powerful and flashy that it’s even blurring the lines between tablet and laptop. If you only want to browse social media and watch Netflix, the 10.5in iPad Pro is overkill; this is for those more interested in creation than consumption.
This game starts off as if Asteroids had a baby with a top-down racer: your triangular craft blasts around circuits, gaining speed when its bum scrapes neon track edges. Soon you discover you’re part of an OS ruled by a deranged AI. Story and game quickly expand, as you glimpse the world beyond the screen and battle gravity in cavern-based sections that recall 8-bit classic Thrust. Rarely do mobile titles pack in so many hours of clever, thoughtful narrative. Pretty much never are such games free.
Stuff says +++++ The iPad Pro puts all other tablets to shame – it’s unbeatable as a multimedia machine or creative tool
Stuff says +++++ A mobile game we’d happily recommend if it cost a fiver – for nowt, it’s an absurdly generous bargain
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Microsoft Surface Go
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from £379 / stuff.tv/SurfaceGo Having this slinky Windows tab up your sleeve (not quite literally) is like carrying a mini PC on you at all times. The processor is adequate for everyday tasks and the 10in screen is lovely. Stuff says +++++ An affordable, ultra-portable workmate
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
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£469 / stuff.tv/TabS3 The Tab S3 is powerful and has a gorgeous screen, while the bundled stylus is a welcome extra that you don’t have to be an artist to appreciate. It doesn’t do half-measures, which is rare in an Android tablet. Stuff says +++++ A genuine rival to Apple’s iPad Pro
Apple iPad (2018) +++++ from £319 / stuff.tv/iPad2018 A versatile tablet for both work play, and at an afforable price.
Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro 10.8 ++++, from £369 / stuff.tv/M5Pro This may not beat the iPad Pro, but it gets you similar skills for much less cash.
HOT BUY
4 5
Euclidean Lands £3.99 / iOS This one smashes Monument Valley’s minimal isometric views into Hitman Go’s turn-based puzzling, and wraps the lot around a Rubik’s Cube. Your aim: figure out how to stab everyone to death. Stuff says +++++ A tactile joy with dazzling visuals
Oddmar £4.99 / iOS Oddmar looks like it could have breezed in from a PS4. It’s packed full of superb level design, arresting set-pieces and lush animated visuals, as a beardy Viking oaf sets out to save his tribe. Stuff says +++++ Touchscreen platformers can be great after all
The Room: Old Sins +++++ £4.99 / Android, iOS Get sucked into an impossible doll’s house for Myst-like exploration and tactile puzzling.
Motorsport Manager Mobile 3 ++++, £3.99 / Android, iOS Forget footie management: watch egotistical nutters blaze around at crazy speeds instead.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE PRODUCTS IN OUR TOP TEN LISTINGS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
TOP TENS IN-EARS
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HOT BUY
HOT BUY
BARGAIN BUY
£36 / stuff.tv/Byron
Beyerdynamic Byron
Urbanista Seattle Wireless £80 / stuff.tv/SeattleWireless
A strong argument for the idea that you don’t really need to spend more than £50 on earphones, the Byrons have a sound we defy you not to like. They’re not like the company’s studio headphones, designed for sound engineers looking for extreme accuracy – they’re for everyday folk – but these humble-looking buds do come with a shot of that special Beyer sauce. They’re some of the truest-sounding in-ears we’ve heard, with great midrange detail and good punch to the bass.
Urbanista makes affordable headphones that sell in the kind of high-street shops where you won’t usually find hardcore hi-fi nerds – so it’s a real surprise that the Seattles are some of the best-sounding affordable wireless cans around. They have a far more expansive and involving soundstage than most sub-£100 pairs – they’re full and rich-sounding, with the sort of tasteful bass drive that will please the masses without turning off the chin-stroking crowd.
Stuff says +++++ Seriously classy in-ear headphones with the detail to outdo the competition
Stuff says +++++ Bags of style and fantastic sound quality at the right price – these Urbanistas are an absolute steal
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BARGAIN BUY
ON-EARS TOP TENS
106
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Sony WF-1000X £131 / stuff.tv/SonyWF Impressive levels of detail and clarity, a decent amount of bass weight to the mix, and active noise-cancelling that works as well as you can expect for a pair of in-ears: we like these Sony buds a lot. Stuff says +++++ The best fully wireless in-ears we’ve heard
SoundMagic E10BT £50 / stuff.tv/E10BT A Bluetooth version of some of the best affordable in-ears available. There’s the classic E10 slight bass boost, paired with clean treble and slightly recessed but detailed mids. Stuff says +++++ No-nonsense wireless buds for all-day listening
Jabra Elite Sport +++++ £150 / stuff.tv/EliteSport Superb-sounding wireless in-ears with some fitness-boosting features.
Bose SoundSport Pulse Wireless +++++ £190 / stuff.tv/SoundSportPulse Fine sound and heart-rate tracking make these worth the price if you can afford it.
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Sony WH-1000XM2 £299 / stuff.tv/SonyWH Sony has given its previous over-ears a series of tweaks rather than a substantial upgrade, but that’s still resulted in a premium pair of noise-cancelling cans. Plus, they have an outstanding 40-hour battery life. Stuff says +++++ A premium price, but a fantastic pair of cans
AKG Y50BT £64 / stuff.tv/Y50BT These wireless AKGs serve up truckloads of detail with a cleaner, more refined and agile listen than many Bluetooth cans. And the garish colour options of the old wired Y50s have been toned down, which is a bonus. Stuff says +++++ Great Bluetooth ’phones for well under £100
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 +++++ £249 / stuff.tv/Momentum2 Pricey but just about worth the outlay, the Momentum 2.0s will have you smitten.
Bose QuietComfort 35 +++++ £330 / stuff.tv/QC35 Frequent flyers and long-range commuters: these are the headphones for you.
TO READ THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/IN-EAR-HEADPHONES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HEADPHONES
TOP TENS SMARTWATCHES
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HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Apple Watch Series 3 from £329 / stuff.tv/AppleWatch3
Moov Now £45 / stuff.tv/MoovNow
Apple may have been pushing the cellular edition, but it’s the GPS-only Watch Series 3 that’s secured the top position on our list. With subtle upgrades – such as the dual-core S3 chip that allows for super-breezy navigation, and the W2 chip that boosts the efficiency of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – this is a major upgrade from the Series 2. Factor in the unrivalled app support and quality fitness features, and there isn’t another smartwatch that comes close. The new Series 4 has a lot to live up to…
Slow and steady wins the race, and the Now has gone on to prove that with a marathon-like pace helping it finally make it to the top of this list. We’ve long considered this tracker a bargain, but further reductions have helped it enter the realm of ‘downright steal’. OK, so it doesn’t have a screen or smartphone skills, but with guided voice coaching, a six-month battery and solid waterproofing, it has everything you’d ever want in your perfect fitness tracker.
Stuff says +++++ Watch this space for the new Series 4, but for now the Series 3 has everything you’d want in a wrist companion
Stuff says +++++ A bargain-tastic fitness band that does more than just track your steps
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Samsung Galaxy Watch from £279 / stuff.tv/GalaxyWatch A sturdy and stylish smartwatch with plenty of power and a truly lovely user interface. Those with an iPhone are still likely to get a better experience and more functionality from an Apple Watch, though. Stuff says +++++ The best smartwatch for Android users
Garmin Vivoactive 3 £240 / stuff.tv/Vivoactive3 It looks good, isn’t a wrist-dominator, outlasts just about all normal smartwatches and gets you the same kind of tracking as the Fenix 5 at barely half the price. We just wish it had more smart features up its sleeve. Stuff says +++++ A fine smartwatch for sporty types
Garmin Fenix 5 +++++ from £399 / stuff.tv/Fenix5 Like the annoying kid in school who’s both super-smart and great at every sport.
Fitbit Versa ++++, £189 / stuff.tv/Versa Decent battery life and a smattering of smarts make this an attractive watch.
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Fitbit Alta HR ++++, £120 / stuff.tv/AltaHR The Alta HR is one of the most motivational health monitors around. The heart-rate tracking adds some insightful meat to your stats, and it has an uncanny ability to tune into the type of exercise you’re doing. Stuff says +++++ A fine all-rounder with great autopilot tracking
Nokia Steel HR £136 / stuff.tv/SteelHR Like a watch from a James Bond film, this Nolia looks rather normal yet hides a hi-tech secret: it will reveal a hidden OLED display if you give the crown a tap, showcasing heart-rate, steps or incoming calls and texts. Stuff says ++++, ‘Style over substance’ is the motto here
Garmin Vivosmart 3 ++++, £100 / stuff.tv/Vivosmart3 It could be more fun and less fiddly, but this is one of the most useful fitness bands around.
Suunto 9 ++++, £499 / stuff.tv/Suunto9 Epic battery life and accurate tracking make this a great – if pricey – option.
FOR THE FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMARTWATCHES & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/FITNESS-TRACKERS
TOP TENS LAPTOPS TIPS & TRICKS
Who needs a Touch Bar? You can log into your Mac with your iPhone’s Touch ID using the MacID app.
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The universal clipboard lets you copy text on your iPhone and paste it directly to your Mac.
HOT BUY
Apple MacBook Pro from £1199 (13in) / stuff.tv/MacBookPro While the Touch Bar versions of the MacBook Pro have been treated to an internal shake-up, most notably with speedy 8th-gen Intel Core chips, the basic Pro is still running on last year’s specs. But with a Kaby Lake processor under the hood, this is still a monster of a machine. And when you factor in the gorgeous display, fantastic keyboard/touchpad and slick design, there’s no doubt this affordable option still deserves its place at the top of our list.
Stuff says +++++ Performance, portability and a sensible price make this the king of laptops O NOW ADD THIS Satechi Type-C USB 3 Hub Two ports not enough? This hub adds loads more and sits snugly against the MacBook Pro’s side. £31 / satechi.net
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Microsoft Surface Laptop
Asus ZenBook UX310UA
from £749 / stuff.tv/SurfaceLaptop
from £600 / stuff.tv/ZenBook
Putting carpet on a laptop and restricting it to Windows 10 S sounds like a disaster on paper. Yet the Surface Laptop is a fantastic portable machine with everything you’d possibly need to meet that deadline in a hurry or watch a film or two.
Asus has hit that price sweet spot, undercutting the competition and making potential MacBook Air buyers think twice before hitching their wagon to Apple and macOS. There’s little else out there that’s better without spending a whole lot more money.
Stuff says +++++ Microsoft’s carpet-covered laptop is an ultra-portable stunner
Stuff says +++++ MacBook styling, but not for MacBook money
BARGAIN BUY
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Dell XPS 13 (2018) +++++ from £1199 / stuff.tv/XPS13 Royalty among Windows laptops, this is an ultra-portable we wish we could keep for good.
Apple MacBook +++++ from £1249 / stuff.tv/MacBook A Kaby Lake processor keeps the standard MacBook competitively brilliant.
Huawei MateBook X Pro +++++ from £1799 / stuff.tv/MateBookXPro A stylish Windows laptop with some clever ideas to get the maximum display for your dollar.
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 +++++ from £2199 / stuff.tv/XPS2in1 A powerful, portable and versatile hybrid, but with a hefty price tag to match.
Lenovo IdeaPad 320S ++++, from £299 / stuff.tv/IdeaPad320S Cheap and cheerful makes for a refreshing combination, especially if you’re on a budget.
Razer Blade 15 ++++, from £1700 / stuff.tv/Blade15 This ultra-portable is a super-powered gaming behemoth, but gets very hot under pressure.
Apple MacBook Pro 13in with Touch Bar ++++, from £1749 / stuff.tv/MacBook This 2018 revamp shakes up the laptop’s insides, giving it enough power to justify its Pro moniker.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW LAPTOPS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/LAPTOPS
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TIPS & TRICKS
With iPhones and Android devices, you can control your Sonos speakers from your lock screen.
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Sonos speakers use a feature called Trueplay that tunes the sound to your room’s acoustics.
HI-FI TOP TENS
HOT BUY
Sonos multiroom system from £149 / stuff.tv/SonosOne If you want to pretend your favourite band is playing in your living room, there’s no better option than a Sonos wireless speaker. They look great, work with your smartphone and boom out your tunes with dazzling finesse – from the compact and Alexa-compatible One (£199) to the flagship Play:5 (£499) and the TV-friendly Beam (£399).
Stuff says +++++ Infinite music in every room without the need for custom installers? Sign us up! O NOW ADD THIS Spotify Premium Sick of playing your iTunes library on repeat? Sign up to Spotify for more new music than you could ever possibly listen to. £9.99/month / spotify.com
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Naim Mu-so
Riva S
£995 / stuff.tv/Mu-so
£119 / stuff.tv/RivaS
How much for a wireless speaker?! Well, yes, but what a wireless speaker it is. Naim has ploughed all of its high-end hi-fi experience into delivering a beautifully made, great-sounding device with AirPlay, Spotify Connect and aptX Bluetooth all on board.
With six drivers pumping out music with a tonal fidelity unrivalled by similarly priced speakers, this Riva is a must-have for sound nerds. Take into consideration the 13-hour battery life and a USB port on the back to charge other devices, and it’s also a great travel companion.
Stuff says +++++ A wireless speaker that can make a valid claim to be genuine hi-fi
Stuff says +++++ The top small wireless speaker for real sound-hounds
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Naim Mu-so Qb +++++ £599 / stuff.tv/Mu-soQb Complements its big brother’s more refined character with a confident presentation.
Loewe Klang M1 +++++ £169 / stuff.tv/KlangM1 Exceptional build quality and sound in a comprehensive compact speaker.
Jam Heavy Metal +++++ £70 / stuff.tv/JamHM Classy sound and design at a bargain price: this is the best affordable Bluetooth speaker.
KEF Muo +++++ £179 / stuff.tv/KEFMuo The Muo sounds as good as it looks… which is very nice indeed.
UE Wonderboom +++++ £58 / stuff.tv/Wonderboom This little speaker might look cute, but it’s a sonic grenade – one you can deploy anywhere.
Bowers & Wilkins T7 +++++ £291 / stuff.tv/P7Wireless There are a million Bluetooth speakers in the world, but few classier than the B&W T7.
UE Megaboom 3 +++++ £170 / stuff.tv/Megaboom3 You’ll struggle to find a better, or more fun, portable Bluetooth speaker.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW HI-FI, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HI-FI-STREAMING
TOP TENS TVs TIPS & TRICKS
Pick one of the expert preset modes and you won’t have to do too much tweaking to get a fantastic picture.
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First turn off any extra processing, then bring it back bit by bit to see if you like the changes.
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Looking for some HDR10+ content? Warner Bros, Fox and Amazon are on board with the format.
HOT BUY
Panasonic FZ802B
£1799 / stuff.tv/FZ802B
As 4K TV prices start to tumble, there’s been a mad dash from manufacturers to convince the world their OLED panels looks better than everyone else’s. So which one really does? This Panasonic, showcasing one of the best 4K HDR displays on the market for a pretty affordable price. OK, so the design looks plain and the lack of Dolby Vision might surprise a few, but when the picture looks so detailed and natural, who really gives a damn?
Stuff says +++++ You won’t find a better OLED for the money than this talented Panasonic O NOW ADD THIS Sky Q Once you’ve got a 4K TV, you’ll want access to the best 4K content. Sky Q is a good bet for watching and recording all your favourite shows and films. from £20 + £20/month / sky.com
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LG C8
Samsung QE65Q9FN
£1999 / stuff.tv/LGC8
£2999 / stuff.tv/QE65Q9FN
This year’s LG flagship television doesn’t appear to be a huge upgrade on 2017’s model, but some clever tweaks to the processor have turned this into one of the finest OLED screens you can get. Sure, the E8 has a more jaw-dropping design and more immersive audio, but the C8 offers the exact same picture quality at a less premium price. For this reason, it’s our top pick from LG’s impressive 2018 range.
What, you thought QLED TVs couldn’t compete with OLEDs? Samsung’s 2018 range offers one of the best displays in the business. The direct backlight, combined with Samsung’s quantum dot tech, results in one of the brightest, punchiest, most vibrant TVs we’ve seen, with superbly controlled contrast. Add to that HDR10+ support, handy smart features and decent sound quality, and this is one of the best tellies out there.
Stuff says +++++ Small improvements make this LG’s best OLED television yet
Stuff says +++++ This 4K QLED is good enough to compete with the best OLEDs
BARGAIN BUY
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Philips 55POS9002 +++++ £1499 / stuff.tv/55POS9002 Available at a relatively affordable price for an OLED 4K HDR set, this Philips is an ace bargain.
LG OLED55C7V +++++ £1499 / stuff.tv/55C7V After a number of price cuts, this LG is now one of the most affordable OLEDs you can buy.
Sony KD-55A1 +++++ £1949 / stuff.tv/SonyA1 While it’s part of Sony’s 2017 range, the quirky design and fab picture still make it a great option.
Philips 50PUS6272 +++++ £600 / stuff.tv/50PUS6272 Not only does it have HDR and 4K support, but this cheap Philips also has the fab Ambilight.
Sony KD-65XF9005 +++++ £1799 / stuff.tv/KD65XF9005 It may have a mid-range price, but this Sony’s 4K LCD panel is still a proper belter.
Samsung UE55MU8000 +++++ £959 / stuff.tv/UE55MU8000 Thought mid-range meant middle of the road? This fine Samsung will make you think again.
Samsung UE40MU6400 +++++ £419 / stuff.tv/UE40 Most 4K TVs are frickin’ huge, but this 40in set will fit any lounge – and it’s ultra-affordable.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW TELEVISIONS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/TVs
TOP TENS SOUNDBARS
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SMART SPEAKERS TOP TENS
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HOT BUY
Sonos Beam £399 / stuff.tv/SonosBeam
Sonos One £199 / stuff.tv/SonosOne
Sonos’s home cinema gear has always been a little expensive, but with the Beam it’s created a great-value soundbar. It sounds ace, comes with loads of features and is compact enough to fit into the average living-room AV setup without taking over. If you want the best-sounding system then the Playbar or Playbase are still the products to go for, but they’re a lot more money, they don’t have Alexa, and they don’t control your TV in the same slick way the Beam does.
Making an amazing speaker was an easy job for the multiroom champs, but getting Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant to dance along in time with it… well, that wasn’t such a simple task. But the One is now an altogether more well-rounded device than it was at launch, supporting Spotify with voice control as well as Amazon Music and TuneIn Radio, while the early Alexa hiccups seem to have been fixed by a series of software updates. The only issue? It’s a little hard of hearing compared to Amazon’s Echo.
Stuff says +++++ Smaller and cheaper than the already excellent Playbar, and packed full of smarts
Stuff says +++++ Sonos’s Alexa-powered speaker remains a class apart from the competition
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Q Acoustics Media 4
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£199 / stuff.tv/Media4 The justifiably multi-award-winning Media 4 combines subtle detail with precise surround effects to be one of the best-sounding and best-value soundbars you can buy. Stuff says +++++ A whole lot of under-telly hi-fi for the money
Sky Soundbox from £249 / stuff.tv/SkySoundbox If you already have a Sky Q subscription, you can get this fantastic audio booster on the cheap. If you haven’t, it’s really too expensive to be worth considering ahead of the class-leading Dali Kubik One. Stuff says +++++ The best-value upgrade ever… if you’ve got Sky
Dali Kubik One +++++ £799 / stuff.tv/KubikOne Gorgeous high-end performance for a not so gorgeous high-end price.
Philips Fidelio B5 ++++, £599 / stuff.tv/FidelioB5 A tech-packed soundbar that sounds as exciting as it looks.
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Amazon Echo Dot £35 / stuff.tv/EchoDot The massive price difference means that, for many people, this is a much better bet than the full-size Echo. The only real downside is its poor-quality speaker, but the 3.5mm audio output will solve that problem for most. Stuff says +++++ One of the best bargains in tech right now
Google Home Max £399 / stuff.tv/HomeMax If you want a smart speaker that can blow the doors off a party, this is the best you can get right now. All the smarts of the basic Home speaker are here, naturally, and the larger drivers offer much more powerful bass. Stuff says ++++, A smart speaker that’s ready to party
Apple HomePod ++++, £319 / stuff.tv/HomePod For Apple Music users who want a high-end smart speaker, this is a cracking choice.
Amazon Echo (2nd gen) ++++, £90 / stuff.tv/AmazonEcho Nothing else in this price range looks quite as good or gets the job done quite as well.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE PRODUCTS IN OUR TOP TEN LISTINGS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
TOP TENS HOME CINEMA
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HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Sky Q from £20 + £20/month / stuff.tv/SkyQ
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro £349 / stuff.tv/PS4Pro
Sky Q works flawlessly and could change the way you watch TV – especially now 4K’s arrived. With Sky Movies’ huge range of films and Sky Sports’ frequent doses of football and F1 now all in stunning Ultra HD, there’s something for everyone to treat their eyes with. And 2TB of storage means you can record 350 hours’ worth of entertainment, so you’re unlikely to be sweating over which show needs deleting. Factor in its multiroom skills, and Sky Q is undoubtedly the best TV experience you can get.
As a gaming platform, PlayStation 4 is the best around – which makes the PS4 Pro the best of the best. Games optimised for the new console look stunning on a 4K HDR TV, and are substantially improved by the extra grunt inside this slightly bigger machine. Sure, it can’t match the Xbox One X for sheer power or resolution, but it makes up for that with an impressive line-up of games – including Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn and Bloodborne – and virtual reality support.
Stuff says +++++ You’ll have to cough up for a subscription, but this is the best box for watching both live and recorded shows
Stuff says +++++ The system for console gamers who have a 4K TV and want the best catalogue of games on offer
BARGAIN BUY
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Amazon Fire TV Stick £40 / stuff.tv/FireStick With fast, reliable performance and most of the major services included – as well as a veritable feast of other apps, games and curios - this is the best option out there for expanding the horizons of your old HD TV. Stuff says +++++ An ace streaming stick with a voice assistant
Roku Streaming Stick+ £80 / stuff.tv/RokuPlus This is a simple way of getting pretty much every streaming app you could want on your 4K TV, making up for any holes in your telly’s smart offering and providing a clean and easy interface in the process. Stuff says ++++, A great choice for the open-minded watcher
Apple TV 4K ++++, £179 / stuff.tv/AppleTV4K Streaming boxes might be on the way out, but Apple’s 4K version still has its uses.
ViewSonic PX747-4K ++++, £999 / stuff.tv/PX747 A 4K projector that’s big on specs and relatively small on price.
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Nintendo Switch £280 / stuff.tv/NintendoSwitch Nintendo’s console earned a promotion in our list after it impressed us with a growing list of fantastic games. Plus, no other device here offers the joy of portable gaming. Train journeys will never be boring again. Stuff says +++++ This 2-in-1 console is the real deal
Microsoft Xbox One X £425 / stuff.tv/XboxOneX There’s no doubt the Xbox One X is the most powerful console here, capable of producing stunning 4K visuals… but it simply doesn’t have the line-up of games to usurp the PS4 Pro from top spot. Stuff says +++++ A 4K monster held back by its game catalogue
Sony PlayStation 4 Slim +++++ £260 / stuff.tv/PS4Slim Haven’t got a 4K TV? This is the best way to enjoy PlayStation’s brilliant exclusives.
Microsoft Xbox One S +++++ £229 / stuff.tv/XboxOneS No longer our Xbox of choice, but the One S remains a serious affordable option.
FOR FULL REVIEWS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/HOME-CINEMA & STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES-MACHINES
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GAMES TOP TENS
HOT BUY
God of War £44 / PS4 A lot has changed for PlayStation’s god-slaying champion. Not only has Kratos gained some wrinkles and grown a chin-full of hair, but he’s also ditched his iconic Blades of Chaos for a magic axe and angered a whole new bunch of gods. But while the action is as breathtaking as ever, it’s the surprisingly mature storyline that’s the draw here, with the short-tempered Kratos learning the ropes of parenting. Don’t expect him to start telling dad jokes just yet.
TIPS & TRICKS Collect Frozen Flames by defeating various enemies to upgrade your trusty Leviathan axe.
Stuff says +++++ The epic return of Kratos is yet another phenomenal PS4 offering
Throw your axe at enemies and it will freeze them in place, leaving you to fight others with your fists.
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HOT BUY
O OR PLAY THIS Bayonetta 2 If you’re upset that God of War has binned its hack-and-slash roots, this eccentric Switch title is the perfect replacement. £41 / Switch
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6 7 Monster Hunter: World
Dragon Ball FighterZ
£30 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
£35 / PS4, Xbox One, PC
From a flame-spitting dinosaur to a poison-puking bird, there are plenty of hulking monsters to slay in this Japanese RPG. But it’s the addictive weapon-upgrade tree, beautiful open-worlds and online cooperative multiplayer that will dig their claws into you.
FighterZ is quite simply gorgeous, fantastic fun to play, and not so difficult that fighting-game newbies will be instantly put off. Dig deeper than the one-button auto combos, though, and you’ll find a nuanced game that genre fans are going to love picking apart.
Stuff says +++++ Fun for veterans and newcomers, World is one monster of a game
Stuff says +++++ This Super Saiyan fighter is a blast to play, and looks great too
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Marvel’s Spider-Man ++++, £48 / PS4 One of the Marvel icon’s absolute best interactive adventures to date.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider ++++, £50 / PS4, Xbox One, PC A thrill ride of a finale for one of the finest action/adventure series in recent memory.
Far Cry 5 ++++, £35 / PS4, Xbox One, PC A few minor gripes aside, this is a brilliant evolution of the open-world FPS series.
Mario Tennis Aces ++++, £40 / Switch A superb and eccentric tennis game that needs a few more online features to come out swinging.
Overcooked 2 ++++, £16.99 / PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC A sequel to one of the best co-op games ever, Overcooked 2 offers chaotic hilarity.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom ++++, £23 / PS4, PC Not quite the new king of JRPGs, but this charming tale is great fun nevertheless.
Jurassic World Evolution ++++, £42 / PS4, Xbox One, PC This dinosaur building-sim sandbox is barebones in features but still a fun nostalgic ride.
FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW GAMES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/GAMES
TOP TENS TECH TOYS
ELECTRIC CARS TOP TENS
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HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Lego Boost Creative Toolbox £150 / stuff.tv/LegoCreativeToolbox
Volvo XC90 T8 from £57,783 / stuff.tv/XC90T8
Building Lego models is already ridiculously good fun, so think what great a time you’ll have when the completed model turns into a functioning robot. With the accompanying tablet app, you can use simple coding to make the robot move, fire projectiles and play various games. And rather than retiring it to the dusty shelf once you’re bored, you can rebuild him into four other programmable models: a harmonica-playing cat, a driveable rover, a working robot-builder and a playable guitar.
The latest XC90 is a monster 4x4 that features some of the most impressive interior tech seen on any car today, hybrid or otherwise. It also looks great, rides beautifully and can tackle the twistiest routes with little complaint – which is particularly impressive considering it weighs over two tonnes. And the latest version has so much gadgetry on board – from lane assistance to a head-up display and electronic air-con – we’re surprised they found room for two engines.
Stuff says +++++ All hail Vernie and friends – for value and sheer fun, it’s hard to beat this programmable Lego kit
Stuff says +++++ A different kind of luxury SUV, this hybrid is an essential if you want a big car that’s also green
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Sphero BB-8 with Force Band
BMW i8 Roadster
£130 / stuff.tv/BB8 BB-8 was fun even without the Force Band. Now it will make you feel like a proper Jedi, letting you control it with gestures– and that’s worth more than all the snow on Hoth. See also the BB-9E model. Stuff says +++++ BB-8 is a bona fide Force sensation
from £124,735 / stuff.tv/i8Roadster It has a tiny engine borrowed from a Mini Cooper, but the added contribution of an electric motor driving the front wheels turns this stunningly futuristic convertible into a genuine supercar. Stuff says +++++ There’s no other convertible like this hybrid
Propel Star Wars X-Wing Battling Drone
Tesla Model X
£67 / stuff.tv/SWDrone The Star Wars Battling Drone works indoors and outdoors, and doesn’t require a licence or CAA permit to fly. It’s a total blast… just a shame there’s no camera or app. Stuff says +++++ Is the Force strong with this one? You betcha!
Razor Crazy Cart Shift ++++, £280 / stuff.tv/Shift A go-kart toy meant for kids that can make grown adults grin like maniacs.
Anki Cozmo ++++, £200 / stuff.tv/Cozmo He’s a bit pricey, but Cozmo’s a great laugh and has buckets of personality.
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from £79,050 / stuff.tv/TeslaX The Model X was never going to be a car of the people with such a heady price. But it takes everything brilliant about the Model S and makes it more practical – and somehow more head-turning at the same time. Stuff says ++++, An incredible, extravagant fully electric car
VW Golf GTE ++++, from £26,479 / stuff.tv/VWGolfGTE Volkswagen keeps the Golf’s heritage alive with a plug-in hybrid that’s a breeze to drive.
Hyundai Ioniq ++++, from £21,540 / stuff.tv/HyundaiIoniq It might not be especially flash, but the Ioniq is a quality alternative to the Toyota Prius.
FOR UP-TO-DATE LISTINGS AND FULL REVIEWS OF ALL KINDS OF GADGETS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
TOP TENS VR HEADSETS
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VR GAMES TOP TENS
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HOT BUY
HOT BUY
Oculus Rift £399 / stuff.tv/OculusTouch
Superhot VR £14.99 / Oculus Rift, Vive, PSVR
The Oculus Rift has been playing catch-up for a while; but now that it’s got the fantastic Touch Controllers, has boosted its room-tracking capabilities to match the Vive and has had a price drop to undercut HTC’s standard headset by £100, it finally deserves to top our VR headset rankings. Its library of exclusive games has grown considerably since launch too, with the likes of Robo Recall, Lucky’s Tale and Lone Echo all added. This is now the best VR headset available that doesn’t cost the world.
Superhot has found its home in VR – just watch those slow-mo bullets skim the tip of your nose. The enemy will only move when you do, so time your attacks to perfection and dodge, duck and dive to survive. There’s something really cool about hiding behind a desk before blitzing your opponents with streams of bullets as if you were starring in your very own Matrix movie. And with Superhot soon arriving on PSVR, more players will be able to experience this wonderfully action-packed title.
Stuff says ++++, Thanks to the price cut and much-needed updates, the Rift is now the best reasonably-priced VR headset
Stuff says +++++ If you have a VR headset, this 2-in-1 puzzler and shooter should be right at the top of your shopping list
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HTC Vive £499 / stuff.tv/HTCVive Barring a £100 price difference, there isn’t much difference between the HTC Vice and Oculus Rift in all honesty. But if you’re thinking of upgrading to the Vive Pro in the future, this is a great gateway headset. Stuff says ++++, A solid choice for immersive virtual reality
HTC Vive Pro £799 (headset only) / stuff.tv/HTCVive This high-end headset offers the best virtual reality experience by a long way, but its sky-high price means you should only really buy it if you’re a VR obsessive with a super-powerful gaming PC. Stuff says ++++, This hardcore headset is overkill for most
Google Daydream View ++++, £99 / stuff.tv/DaydreamView This budget-friendly option is the best way of bringing VR to the masses.
PlayStation VR +++,, £235 / stuff.tv/PlayStationVR It can deliver incredible experiences, but the PSVR is held back by teething issues.
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Farpoint £15 (£65 with Aim Controller) / PSVR If it weren’t in VR, Farpoint would be a distinctly average space-based FPS. But the PSVR headset and Aim Controller lift it above the pack and make it a must-play, not just for VR fans but also for FPS addicts. Stuff says +++++ Simply a thrilling VR experience
Moss £25 / PSVR This platform puzzler has a storybook charm to it, as you guide an adorable little mouse through all sorts of obstacles. It’s one of the best titles to really utilise VR’s unique controls. Stuff says ++++, A one-of-a-kind fable that’s perfect for VR
Thumper ++++, £15.99 / Oculus Rift, Vive, PSVR This mesmerising rhythm game is best played in VR, despite the lack of tracking.
Doom VFR ++++, £14.99 / Vive, PSVR Movement can be awkward, but this shooter is still bloody good fun.
FOR FULL REVIEWS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE OF THE STUFF TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
TOP TENS SMART HOME
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Tado Smart Thermostat from £199 + installation / stuff.tv/Tado It might not be as pretty as the Nest 3.0, but Tado has quietly evolved into the best all-round smart heating system around. Like autopilot for your boiler, it senses when you’re leaving home or coming back thanks to the app’s geolocation. And Tado’s gadgety goodness is second to none, with the option of zonal control for individual rooms and voice smarts from the likes Alexa and Google Assistant.
TIPS & TRICKS Check out the app’s Energy Savings Report to see how well you’re doing each month.
Stuff says +++++ Tado roasts the competition with its combination of simplicity and smarts
Crank up the nerdery by tinkering with Tado’s IFTTT channel or adding it to your HomeKit setup.
O NOW ADD THIS Tado Smart Radiator Thermostats Once you’ve tasted the joys of zonal smart heating, you and your wallet will never go back. £59 each / tado.com
Hook up an Amazon Echo or Google Home to change the temperature with your voice.
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Netatmo Welcome
Nest 3.0
£158 / stuff.tv/NetatmoWelcome
£279 + installation / stuff.tv/Nest3
Netatmo’s smart cam has face recognition capability, which works well once it’s got to know you, and the usual motion and noise detection is easy to control. You can also remotely monitor your house to keep the paranoia at bay while on holiday.
This is one of the cleverest (and best-looking) smart thermostats on the market. Nest learns your habits – when you’re in, when you’re likely to need a lot of hot water and so on – so it can control the boiler to save energy and keep that shower nice and toasty.
Stuff says +++++ A neat security cam with loads of features and storage options
Stuff says +++++ A simple and mess-free smart thermostat with Alexa compatibility
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Philips Hue Starter Kit +++++ from £60 (white) / stuff.tv/PhilipsHue Become an indoor god with the smartest way of lighting up your home remotely.
Netgear Arlo Pro +++++ £195 / stuff.tv/ArloPro A good home cam that becomes a great one outdoors. Your shed has never been so secure.
Google Wifi +++++ £129 / stuff.tv/GoogleWifi A signal-spreading wonder that’ll make your old router look like a tech dinosaur.
Nest Hello ++++, £229 / stuff.tv/NestHello Not only is this a nifty smart doorbell, but it also doubles as a useful outdoor security camera.
Dyson Pure Cool Desk ++++, £400 / stuff.tv/PureCool Much more than just a smart fan, this device justifies its high price as a home air-purifier.
Hive Active Heating ++++, £249 / stuff.tv/HiveActive This heating system is simple enough for anyone to use and powerful enough to be truly useful.
Nanoleaf Aurora + Rhythm ++++, from £220 / stuff.tv/NanoleafRhythm The most dazzling smart lights around, with some impressive sonic skills added.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF THE BEST SMART HOME DEVICES, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SMART-HOME-DEVICES
TOP TENS DRONES
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COMPACT CAMERAS TOP TENS
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UPDATE
DJI Mavic Air £769 / stuff.tv/MavicAir
Sony DSC-RX100 V £799 / stuff.tv/RX100V
By combining the best bits from the Spark and Mavic Pro, DJI has made a cracking gadget for both beginners who want stunning aerial travel videos and those who just want to fly a nimble drone at full pelt around the local park. Not only can it shoot 4K video and be folded up to fit snugly in your backpack, but it also packs a range of autonomous skills – helping you to take fantastic videos even if you aren’t the greatest pilot in the world. All in all, this is our clear favourite high-flying drone.
We wouldn’t recommend buying this camera if you already own the old IV model, but a few improvements have ensured Sony remains the top dog in our compacts list – and we’re keeping this model above the new RX100 VI simply because of the huge price difference. It remains one of the finest point-and-shoots we’ve ever seen, with a flexibility that few pocket cameras can muster. While it’s still not exactly cheap, we reckon this is the cam to buy if you want fantastic-looking snaps from your holidays.
Stuff says +++++ The best non-professional drone you can buy – the Mavic Air takes airborne cameras to new heights
Stuff says +++++ A small improvement over the RX100 IV, but this Sony is close to premium point-and-shoot perfection
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DJI Spark
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£449 / stuff.tv/DJISpark The Spark is the most user-friendly drone on this list, allowing you control it via hand gestures or a smartphone, while it’s so diddy it will easily fit in your bag for a day out in the park. The 15-minute fly time is short, though. Stuff says +++++ The perfect drone for beginners
DJI Mavic Pro £899 / stuff.tv/MavicPro Despite the tiny proportions, DJI hasn’t had to make any sacrifices for the Mavic Pro. In fact, it’s got more tech packed inside it than the Phantom 4 – and the foldable arms and compact controller add to its portability. Stuff says +++++ The Mavic Pro is the ultimate hobbyist drone
Parrot Anafi +++++ £630 / stuff.tv/Anafi The Anafi is a compact, (relatively) affordable and 4K-capable high-flyer.
Ryze Tello ++++, £97 / stuff.tv/Tello Not without its technical shortcomings, but there’s no better £100 toy drone.
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Panasonic Lumix TZ200 £729 / stuff.tv/TZ200 This Panasonic compact is a significant upgrade from the TZ100, offering extra reach with the zoom lens, better colour reproduction, and an improved experience when using the electronic viewfinder. Stuff says +++++ Small, neat and not dramatically overpriced
Sony DSC-RX100 VI £1150 / stuff.tv/RX100VI A true all-rounder that shoots 24fps at full resolution and has stunningly fast autofocus, topped off with a whopping 8x zoom lens that’s quite spectacular for such a tiny camera. Stuff says +++++ A dinky yet luxurious point-and-shoot
Panasonic Lumix LX100 +++++ £499 / stuff.tv/LX100 One of the most capable compacts on the market, with superb stills and HD video.
Fujifilm X100F +++++ £1199 / stuff.tv/X100F The best street shooter around if you don’t need the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST SMART HOME TECH, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/COMPACT-CAMERAS
TOP TENS SYSTEM CAMERAS
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Fujifilm X-T20 £749 / stuff.tv/XT20 Coming with the same 24.3MP APS-C sensor and processor as the X-T2, plus a touchscreen (which its sibling lacks), the X-T20 will leave you with a lot more spare cash in your account. And for most people, the model will deliver results that are just as good as its pricier big brother’s. With well laid-out controls, a huge viewfinder, excellent autofocus and access to superb lenses, the X-T20 is just one more fantastic mirrorless camera from Fujifilm.
TIPS & TRICKS For aperture-priority shots, set shutter speed to auto and turn the lens ring to the desired f-number.
Stuff says +++++ The X-T20 nails the sweet spot between price and performance
Pressing the Q button will open a custom menu, giving you quick access to loads of settings.
O NOW ADD THIS Manfrotto 190 Go! Carbon Fibre Tripod You no longer have an excuse for wobbly photos with this carbon-fibre tripod. It weighs just 1.65kg. £235 / manfrotto.co.uk
Tapping an area on the 3in touchscreen will let you set the focus point or take an instant shot.
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Sony A7 III
Panasonic Lumix G9
£1999 / stuff.tv/SonyA7iii
£1499 / stuff.tv/LumixG9
The A7 III manages to pack in a lot of technology and desirability for less than £2000. It’s a fantastic all-rounder that’s well suited to a bunch of shooting scenarios, coping well with landscapes, portraits, and even a little bit of high-speed sport shooting. As a camera design it’s admitedly not the prettiest thing we’ve ever seen, but it handles well for its compact size.
The G9 is the best Lumix camera to date and a cracking choice for wildlife or action photography. This diminutive cam’s images aren’t up with the best, particularly in low light, but the plus sides are lightning shooting speeds and a great system of small, light lenses. With 4K video and handy shooting modes also on board, it’s one of most versatile high-end mirrorless cameras you can buy.
Stuff says +++++ A fantastic all-rounder that excels in low-light conditions
Stuff says +++++ The perfect companion for the travelling wildlife photographer
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Sony A6500 +++++ £1279 / stuff.tv/A6500 A cracking system cam for action photography, but stick with the A6300 if your budget is tight.
Fujifilm X-H1 +++++ £1699 / stuff.tv/XH1 By adding in-body image stabilisation, Fuji has created a wonderful all-rounder.
Panasonic GH5S +++++ £2199 / stuff.tv/GH5S A compact system camera that’s a pro at video, if slightly disappointing for stills.
Canon EOS 80D +++++ £830 / stuff.tv/80D The 80D is so easy to use that even a toddler would get some great shots with it.
Nikon D500 +++++ £1699 / stuff.tv/D500 The best APS-C camera you can buy, and well worth its slightly painful price tag.
Nikon D850 +++++ £3499 / stuff.tv/D850 This super-cam has enough fantastic features to excel in pretty much any situation.
Fujifilm GFX 50S +++++ £5999 / stuff.tv/GFX50S It’s not cheap, but no camera we’ve tested takes better photos than this.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THE BEST NEW CAMERAS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10/SYSTEM-CAMERAS
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SNES Classic Mini £80 / stuff.tv/ClassicMini TIPS & TRICKS Why bother splashing out over £200 on a games console when you can get the SNES Classic Mini for a fraction of that? Especially when you get 21 classic titles pre-installed on this nostalgia-inducing machine, including the likes of Super Metroid, A Link to the Past, Super Mario World and the never-before-released Star Fox 2. And with two controllers bundled in the box, you’ll be able to start the Super Mario Kart action right away.
Chickens killed you in Zelda again? You can rewind up to five minutes and pretend it never happened. For full-fat nostalgia you can read the instruction manual for each of the SNES games online.
Stuff says +++++ With 21 classic games installed, gamers won’t find better value anywhere
Stop trying to raid Bowser’s castle in one sitting, and use one of the four save slots to take a break.
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O NOW ADD THIS 8Bitdo Bluetooth Retro Receiver Fed up of those short cables? Use this clever device to connect most modern controllers wirelessly. £16.14 / 8bitdo.com
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Raspberry Pi Zero W
UE Wonderboom
from £9.16 / stuff.tv/PiZeroW
£58 / stuff.tv/Wonderboom
It might be nearly twice the price of the original Pi Zero, but when you’re still getting change from a tenner the wireless Pi is fantastic value. Simplicity is key, with no need to mess about with dongles or hubs. This also means your Pi projects can be squeezed into smaller places.
If you want a cheap portable Bluetooth speaker, you can’t go wrong with either the Jam Heavy Metal or the UE Wonderboom. But the latter makes this list for its funky design and waterproofing. As it’s Stuff’s reigning hi-fi gadget of the year, this is a super bargain.
Stuff says +++++ The Pi Zero was already brilliant; wireless add-ons make it better
Stuff says +++++ Our absolute favourite hi-fi gadget, and for well under £100
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Moov Now +++++ £45 / stuff.tv/MoovNow The best budget tracker you can buy – gives most Fitbits a run for their money.
Amazon Echo Dot +++++ £35 / stuff.tv/EchoDot This smart home assistant is a lot smaller than the full-size Echo, but it’s a much bigger bargain.
Beyerdynamic Byron +++++ £36 / stuff.tv/Byron The best-sounding earphones you’ll be able to find at this bargain price.
Ryze Tello ++++, £97 / stuff.tv/Tello Rule the skies without breaking the bank with this affordable toy drone.
Vodafone Smart N8 ++++, £85 / stuff.tv/SmartN8 As phone prices creep towards the realm of the ridiculous, Vodafone offers a bargain alternative.
Ikea Tradfri ++++, from £15 / stuff.tv/IkeaSmartLights Philips Hue might have colour-changing bulbs, but Ikea’s Tradfri smart lights are crazy cheap.
Mobvoi Ticwatch E ++++, £146 / stuff.tv/Ticwatch Fancy a watch that’s both smart and good at fitness tracking? This is our bargain ticker pick.
FOR FULL REVIEWS OF ALL THESE GADGETS, AND TO EXPLORE MORE TOP TEN LISTS, VISIT STUFF.TV/TOP-10
TOP TENS HOW TO BUY
HOW TO BUY SMART LIGHTS
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Fed up with relying on a dodgy dimmer switch for moody ambience? Shine a smart light on your life with one of these fuss-free systems… Apps You can download music-matching Hue apps for parties, and with Nanoleaf it’s built right into the system.
Routines Hook your lights up to Alexa, Google Assistant or HomeKit to add to daily schedules and scenes.
EXTRA TRICKS
Integrations Hue bulbs can be set to flash red as a warning when a Nest Protect sensor detects carbon monoxide.
LET THERE BE LIGHT 1
Start simple
Ikea’s made it super-cheap to get into smart lights with its budget Tradfri range of white and colour-changing bulbs. Make do with the wireless dimmer and remote control (no app controls) and you don’t even need to buy the £25 Gateway hub. Plus they work with Alexa, HomeKit and Google Assistant. Which begs the question: why would you buy dumb bulbs? O Get this: Ikea Tradfri from £15 (white) / ikea.com
OR GET ONE OF THESE…
2 See the light(bulb) Before you buy, check whether you’re after an A19 bulb or a GU10 spotlight. Either way, Philips Hue has got you covered. Hue works with just about everything, it’s available as lamps, mirrors and outdoor lights, and extras such as ‘away from home’ controls and the colour-changing Sync app give it the edge over rivals. O Get this: Philips Hue from £14.99 (white) / meethue.com
BRIGHTER IDEAS 3 Join the hub club You might think you don’t want another hub, but it’s probably worth the extra faff. Take Hive’s white and colour bulbs: they run on a protocol called Zigbee, which needs a hub, but that means they’re highly reliable and stable. And you can experiment with Hive’s ‘recipes’ to connect your bulbs to other Hive home gadgets and sensors. O Get this: Hive Active Lights from £19, Hub £80 / hivehome.com
4 Go straight to the switch Before you replace every bulb in sight, may we suggest a smart lightswitch for bigger houses? It’s a bit more involved at setup, but once you’re up and running it’ll control existing bulbs and is handy if your light fixtures aren’t playing nice with smart bulbs. Lightwave is slick and works with both voice control and automated scenes. O Get this: Lightwave Smart Dimmer £60 / lightwaverf.com
5 Hit the wall
Break your smart lights out of boring lampshades and go all in with Nanoleaf’s modular smart lighting. With the new Canvas, you can connect to up to 500 panels. O Get this: Nanoleaf Canvas from £180 (due Nov) / nanoleaf.me
O ECOBEE SWITCH+
O TP-LINK SMART PLUG
A lightswitch on steroids, Ecobee’s Switch+ has Alexa built in, motion sensors to turn on the lights when you enter a room, and compatibility with all the major smart home platforms plus IFTTT.
Got a big lamp that isn’t working with smart bulbs? Connect it to an affordable smart plug like the TP-Link HS110, which gives you app and voice controls plus stats on power consumption.
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DEALS TOP TENS
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Ever wondered what’s up with the links in Stuff? We’ve got a team of retail pros who scour the web to find you the best gadget deals – visit any stuff.tv link in this issue and you’ll be taken to the best deal for that product. If you make a purchase, we may
get a small commission. It’s that simple, and has no impact on how much you pay. O In the mag: We pick out the best price for every featured product O Online: Choose from our roster of great-value retailers
NEXT BIG THING?
irror, mirror, on the wall… Who is the laziest of them all? Good question. Hang one of these up in your bedroom and you’ll soon find out. You see, this Mirror (inspired name, isn’t it?) does much more than just give you a handy visual reminder to lay off the biscuits. It’s also a fully qualified, completely connected personal trainer. And don’t think you can slack off just because there’s no one there to shout at you. If you’re wearing an Apple Watch or the bundled Bluetooth heart-rate monitor, the Mirror will let you know if you need to pick up the pace.
M
Who wants fitness advice from a robot? Au contraire. It’s not bots telling you to drop and give them 20 – it’s real fitness bods, with more than 50 new classes from yoga to boxing available to livestream per week, so even the keenest gym bunnies should find plenty to keep them busy. Can’t clock on for a workout at the scheduled time? Don’t get too comfortable on that sofa, because classes are also available on demand. If you do decide you need a bit more dedicated tuition, the Mirror has a camera, microphone and speakers built in, with one-to-one sessions available soon.
Sounds like Mr Motivator for millennials. It’s certainly not a million miles away. But your TV didn’t display vital stats related to your workouts in real time when Mr M was shouting encouragement at you, did it? And you couldn’t choose from a selection of curated playlists or hook your phone up to blast your own either. The Mirror is controlled through an app, so you won’t get sweaty smears all over it – which is just as well, because it costs $1495 plus $39 a month to subscribe. Perhaps convincing the real Mr Motivator to be your live-in personal trainer isn’t such a bad idea after all.
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[ Words Tom Wiggins ]
wall-mounted coaches
ME T O S T EP O AT T R E A DMI With so many demands from work, home and family, there never seem to be enough hours in the day for you. Why not press pause once in a while, curl up with your favourite magazine and put a little oasis of ‘you’ in your day.